Image processing apparatus, method of controlling image processing apparatus, and storage medium for editing an album

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus to execute a specifying step for specifying a change target for a common page contained in album data for a first subject containing the common page and an individual page for the first subject based at least on parameters related to the first subject, and specifying a change target for the common page contained in album data for a second subject containing the common page and an individual page for the second subject based at least on parameters related to the second subject.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a technique for editing an album.

Description of the Related Art

In addition to the spread of digital cameras, the spread of smartdevices and the improvement in the camera performance of smart deviceshave rapidly increased the number of photos a user takes. JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 2016-66328 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1)proposes a method for a plurality of users to create an album together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As for album editing, however, editing on an album-by-album basis is notconsidered in Document 1, which makes it impossible to provide albumseach achieving high user satisfaction.

A method of controlling an image processing apparatus includes:specifying a change target for a common page contained in album data fora first subject containing the common page and an individual page forthe first subject, based at least on parameters related to the firstsubject, and specifying a change target for the common page contained inalbum data for a second subject containing the common page and anindividual page for the second subject, based at least on parametersrelated to the second subject, wherein at least one of the parametersused to specify the change target for the common page contained in thealbum data for the first subject and at least one of the parameters usedto specify the change target for the common page contained in the albumdata for the second subject are different; displaying the change targetsthus specified; and changing the common page contained in the album datafor the first subject based on the specified change target according toa change operation for changing the album data for the first subject,and changing the common page contained in the album data for the secondsubject based on the specified change target according to a changeoperation for changing the album data for the second subject.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of hardware capable of executing applicationsaccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are software block diagrams of an album creationapplication;

FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining image layouts;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display screen displayed by theapplication;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are process flow diagrams of automatic layout;

FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining image group division;

FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining scene classification;

FIGS. 8A to 8I are diagrams explaining image selection;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of template selection;

FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram of the template selection;

FIG. 11 is a diagram explaining image layouts;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of double-page spread joining;

FIG. 13 is a process flow diagram of the double-page spread joining;

FIG. 14 is a software block diagram of an album editing application;

FIG. 15A is a diagram explaining an example of an album editing screen;

FIGS. 15B-1 and 15B-2 are diagrams explaining examples of the albumediting screen;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating blocks in an album editing component;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for settingrecommendation conditions;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams illustrating examples of recommendations;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams illustrating examples of recommendations;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating examples of recommendations;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a process flow for making arecommendation;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating blocks in an album editing component;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a process flow for making arecommendation;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating blocks in an album editing component;and

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a process flow for making arecommendation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail by using the drawings.

Embodiment 1

In the present embodiment, an application for album creation(hereinafter also referred to as “application” or simply “app”) is runon an image processing apparatus, and the application is caused togenerate pieces of album data in each of which a plurality of photoimages are automatically laid out. By printing these pieces of albumdata, a plurality of albums can be created as printed products. In thepresent embodiment, a double-page spread(s) common to at least twoalbums and a double-page spread(s) individually set for each album arecreated. Each album has an individual double-page spread(s) with adifferent structure for the subject to be laid out therein with aparticular emphasis (hereinafter “main subject”), for example. The totalnumber of double-page spreads forming each album (hereinafter “the totalnumber of double-page spreads”) is designated by the user who operatesthe app and is the same for all albums. However, the number of commondouble-page spreads and the number of individual double-page spreads ineach album vary according to the image group and settings. Thedouble-page spreads and the images placed in the double-page spreads arearranged in order of image capture time.

By using individual double-page spreads, the plurality of albums createdcan each be an album partly dedicated to its main subject. That is, theplurality of albums created in the present embodiment are expected notto be completely identical albums in which the same images are placed inthe same layout in every double-page spread. Note that some of theplurality of albums thus created may consequently be completelyidentical albums.

Also, in the present embodiment, the user can edit the piece of albumdata of each album created to include a common double-page spread(s) andan individual double-page spread(s). The following description isbroadly divided into a process of automatically generating pieces ofalbum data and a process of editing the generated pieces of album databy the user. In the user editing process too, the processing isperformed automatically. Configurations for the process of automaticallygenerating pieces of album data will be described first. The process ofediting the generated pieces of album data by the user will be describedafter that.

<<Album Data Generation Process>>

<Hardware Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus>

A hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus in thepresent embodiment will be described below using FIG. 1. While thefollowing will describe a case where the image processing apparatus isan information processing apparatus (PC), another apparatus such as asmartphone may be employed as the image processing apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 100 has a CPU101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an HDD 104, a display 105, a keyboard 106, amouse 107, and a data communication device 108. These parts areconnected by a data bus 109 and can send and receive data to and fromeach other.

The CPU 101 controls the entire image processing apparatus 100. Also,the CPU 101 executes the image processing method to be described in thepresent embodiment in accordance with a program. Note that while theimage processing apparatus has a single CPU in FIG. 1, the imageprocessing apparatus may have a plurality of CPUs.

The ROM 102 stores programs to be executed by the CPU 101. The RAM 103provides a memory to temporarily store various pieces of informationwhile the CPU 101 executes a program. The HDD 104 stores a databaseholding image files and the results of processes such as an imageanalysis and the like, and so on. In the present embodiment, this HDD104 stores an application program for album creation. Note that thisapplication program is also called “album creation app”, and will bedescribed later using FIGS. 2A and 2B, etc.

The display 105 is a device that displays a user interface (hereinafter“UI”) and an image layout result in the present embodiment to presentthem to the user. The display 105 may have the function of a touchsensor. The keyboard 106 is one of input devices included in the imageprocessing apparatus 100 and is used to, for example, inputpredetermined information into a GUI displayed on the display 105. Inthe present embodiment, the user inputs a desired number of double-pagespreads in each album with the keyboard 106. The mouse 107 is one of theinput devices included in the image processing apparatus 100 and is usedto, for example, click and press buttons in a GUI displayed on thedisplay 105.

The data communication device 108 is a device for communicating withexternal apparatuses, such as a printer and a server. For example,pieces of album data as the result of automatic layout are sent to theprinter or the server connected to the image processing apparatus 100via the data communication device 108. The data bus 109 connects each ofthe above constituent elements and the CPU 101 to each other. The aboveare the contents of the hardware configuration of the image processingapparatus in the present embodiment.

<Software Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus>

A software configuration of the image processing apparatus in thepresent embodiment, in other words, a functional configurationimplemented by the album creation application installed in the imageprocessing apparatus, will be described below using FIGS. 2A and 2B. Thealbum creation application is launched in response to the userdouble-clicking the application's icon displayed on the display 105 withthe mouse 107. While the album creation application has variousfunctions, its automatic layout function provided by an automatic layoutprocessing component 202 will be mainly described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, this app has an album creation conditionsetting component 201, the automatic layout processing component 202, analbum display component 214, and an album information holding component215. “Automatic layout function” refers to a function of generatingalbum data by classifying and selecting captured photo images based ontheir contents, attributes, and the like and then laying them out. Thealbum data thus generated is displayed on the display 105.

An album creation condition setting component 201 sets album creationconditions corresponding to the user's mouse operation to the automaticlayout processing component 202. In the present embodiment, an imagegroup to be used for the albums, the total number of double-page spreadsper album, material of the albums, the number of albums, and the mainsubject in each album are set as the album creation conditions. Theimage group may be set, for example, by using information attached toindividual pieces of image data such as their image capture dates andtimes or by using their attribute information. Alternatively, the imagegroup may be set based on the structure of a file system in which piecesof image data are stored via designation a device or directory or thelike. This image group may be a storage destination storing pieces ofimage data from users who are potential main subjects or a storagedestination storing pieces of image data collected from a particularuser. Note that, in the context of, for example, a display, “double-pagespread” is a single display window and, in the context of a printedproduct, it is a pair of mutually facing pages (i.e., two pages) which auser can view together at the same time in a state where the book isopened. Note that the two pages forming a double-page spread is formedeither as different printed sheets bound to face each other or as asingle printed sheet folded at the center. The description will be givenherein based on concepts of double-page spread as above, but adouble-page spread may just be pages. Also, a main subject refers to asubject to be laid out with a particular emphasis within an album. Forexample, it is a category of object such as a particular person, dog,cat, flower, or dish, the tonality of a whole object or image, or thelike. The main subjects herein are persons for the sake of description.

Now, albums to be created in the present embodiment will be describedusing FIG. 3. In the present embodiment, different versions of an albumare created based on the number of albums and the main subject of eachalbum set by the album creation condition setting component 201. In theexample of FIG. 3, an album 1, an album 2, and an album 3 are created asthe different versions of an album.

Each album includes a “common double-page spread(s)” in which the sameimages are placed in the same layout for all of the different versionsof the album, and an “individual double-page spread(s)” whose images orimage layout is different from those in the other albums. In the exampleof FIG. 3, the albums 1 to 3 each include a common double-page spread302. Moreover, the album 1 includes an individual double-page spread303, the album 2 includes an individual double-page spread 304, and thealbum 3 includes an individual double-page spread 305.

An image 301 is an image placed in a double-page spread, and thecharacters in the image 301 represent main subjects appearing in theimage. In the following figures, “main subject A”, “main subject B”, and“main subject C” are abbreviated as “MS A”, “MS B”, and “MS C”,respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the common double-page spread302 includes images with a plurality of main subjects. On the otherhand, the individual double-page spreads 303 to 305 each include animage(s) with only a particular main subject, for example, theindividual double-page spread 303 includes images with only a mainsubject A. Thus, in the case of creating a plurality of albums in thepresent embodiment, the plurality of albums each include a double-pagespread(s) created based on a different criterion. That is, by beingcreated based on a different criterion, the double-page spread thuscreated appears as a different double-page spread.

The automatic layout processing component 202 has an image obtainingcomponent 203, an image analysis component 204, an main subject settingcomponent 205, a scene division component 206, a scene classificationcomponent 207, an image scoring component 208, a double-page spreadcreation parameter generation component 209, and a double-page spreadcreation component 210. The automatic layout processing component 202also has a double-page spread joining component 211, a layoutinformation output component 212, and an album information outputcomponent 213.

The image obtaining component 203 obtains, from among images stored inthe HDD 104, an image group satisfying the album creation conditions setby the album creation condition setting component 201. The image grouphere refers to a group of images as candidates to be laid out in thealbum creation. For example, in a case where the image capture date andtime are designated to be January 1, XX (year) to December 31, XX(year), all images captured from January 1, XX (year) to December 31, XX(year) are the group of images as candidates to be laid out. The imagesstored in the HDD 104 include still images, cutout images cut out frommoving images, and the like. The still images and cutout images areimages obtained from an image capture device, such as a digital cameraor a smart device. The image capture device may be included in the imageprocessing apparatus 100 or included in an external apparatus associatedwith the image processing apparatus 100. Note that in a case where theimage capture device is an external apparatus, the image obtainingcomponent 203 obtains images via the data communication device 108.Also, the still images and cutout images may be images obtained from anexternal network or server via the data communication device 108. Theimages obtained from the network or server include social networkingservice images (hereinafter “SNS images”). Note that, by executing an OSprogram, the CPU 101 analyzes data attached to the image data of eachimage to figure out the storage source from which the image has beenobtained. Here, images may be obtained from an SNS via the applicationto manage the source from which the images are obtained within theapplication. Note that the images to be obtained by the image obtainingcomponent 203 are not limited to the above and may be other types ofimages.

The image analysis component 204 analyzes the pieces of image dataobtained by the image obtaining component 203. In the presentembodiment, the image analysis component 204 derives a feature amount ofeach image and executes determination of objects and detection of facesin the images, expression recognition on the detected faces, andpersonal recognition on the detected faces. Further, the image analysiscomponent 204 refers to the data attached to each piece of image dataobtained from the HDD 104 (e.g., Exif information) and obtainsinformation on the image capture date and time. Note that theinformation obtained as a result of the analysis of each piece of imagedata by the image analysis component 204 will be referred to as“analysis information”.

The main subject setting component 205 sets the main subject to beemphasized for each album. In the present embodiment, the main subjectsetting component 205 obtains information on each album's main subjectto be emphasized sent from the album creation condition settingcomponent 201.

The image scoring component 208 scores each image based on the albumcreation conditions set by the album creation condition settingcomponent 201 and the analysis information derived by the image analysiscomponent 204. In the present embodiment, the image scoring component208 scores each image such that an image suitable to be laid out isgiven a high score. For the scoring to be performed such that an imagesuitable to be laid out is given a high score, the analysis informationon each image, the result of classification of the image, imageinformation, the album creation conditions, and the like are used.Incidentally, another type of information may be additionally oralternatively used. Examples of the image suitable to be laid outinclude an image with high sensuousness such as a high contrast or sharpedges, and an image in which its subject, such as a person, an animal,or a building, that serves as a central theme (i.e., main subject)appears large. Further, the image scoring component 208 performs thescoring for each main subject set by the main subject setting component205. For example, the image scoring component 208 gives a low score toan image which has remarkably high sensuousness but does not have theset main subject appearing therein, and gives a high score to an imagewhich is captured under a bad condition, such as backlight, but has theset main subject appearing large therein.

The scene division component 206 divides the image group obtained by theimage obtaining component 203 by scene by using the analysis informationderived by the image analysis component 204. “Scene” here means a set ofimages grouped according to the analysis information (sub image group).For example, the scene division component 206 determines that two imagescaptured at different times belong to the same scene in a case where thedifference in image capture time is less than or equal to apredetermined threshold value, and determines that images with the sameperson or background belong to the same scene.

The scene classification component 207 determines the category of eachscene obtained by the scene division component 206. Examples of thescene categories include a situation such as indoor or outdoor, theevent in which the images were captured, such as a trip or a weddingceremony, and so on.

The double-page spread creation parameter generation component 209generates a plurality of parameters for creating double-page spreadsbased on the main subjects set by the main subject setting component 205and the analysis information derived by the image analysis component204. The plurality of parameters include, for example, a parameter forcommon double-page spreads and a parameter for individual double-pagespreads. Each of the parameters here is a setting value that defines acriterion for creating a double-page spread. Examples of such parametersinclude a weight or threshold value that determines the degree ofpriority of each score obtained by the image scoring component 208,which will be used in the selection of images to be used in double-pagespreads. This is a setting value for selecting whether to prioritize animage with only a particular main subject or an image with two or moremain subjects among images with the main subjects set by the mainsubject setting component 205. By using the plurality of parameters, thedouble-page spread creation criterion varies by album. Also, thedouble-page spread creation parameters include a parameter for derivinga score of an image taking into account its relativeness in adouble-page spread or the like on the assumption that the image isplaced in that double-page spread.

Here, a parameter for deriving a score of an image alone for selectingan image to be used in a double-page spread will be referred to as thefirst parameter for convenience, and a parameter for deriving a score ofan image taking into account the relativeness of that image placed inthe double-page spread or the like will be referred to as “secondparameter” for convenience. In this case, the double-page spreadcreation component 210 to be described next firstly selects candidateimages usable in the double-page spread according to the firstparameter. The double-page spread creation component 210 then determinesimages suitable for the double-page spread among the candidate imagesand also a suitable template or the like according to the secondparameter. Here, the parameters are classified into the first parameterand the second parameter for convenience. Parameters comprehensivelyrepresenting these will be collectively referred to as the double-pagespread creation parameters.

The double-page spread creation component 210 creates double-page spreaddata by selecting images to be used in the double-page spreads andplacing them according to the parameters generated by the double-pagespread creation parameter generation component 209. For example, thedouble-page spread creation component 210 selects candidate images basedon the first parameter. The first parameter is, as mentioned above, aparameter that changes a weight for each of the set main subjects and isalso a parameter that applies a weight corresponding to a predetermineddegree of priority. The degree of priority may be, for example, a degreeof priority corresponding to the presence or absence of cropping. Forexample, since a common double-page spread tends to contain a pluralityof main subjects, images of sizes that do not involve cropping may beprioritized, in order to prevent a main subject(s) from being leftunselected. As for individual double-page spreads, it is considered thatthere may be only one main subject and cropping may be performed to geta close-up of the main subject. Thus, the priority of images thatinvolve cropping does not have to be lowered.

Note that degrees of priority as above may be determined in advance orset by the user as appropriate. By preparing weights or threshold valuescorresponding to these degrees of priority, the user can change theparameters by changing the degree of priority for pieces of information.Also, such degrees of priority may be degrees of priority taking theabove-mentioned information and also various other types of informationinto account. The various other types of information may includeinformation on the scene of the image, information on the number ofobjects other than the main subject, the number of people other than themain subject, the resolution, the background, and so on.

The double-page spread creation component 210 then applies the secondparameter to the score of each candidate image derived as describedabove to thereby derive a score, and creates each double-page spreadsuch that the sum of the scores of the images placed in the double-pagespread is high. The sum of the scores of the images placed in thedouble-page spread will be referred to as “the score of the double-pagespread”. The second parameter is a parameter taking relativeness in thedouble-page spread into account and, for example, enables images atcertain time intervals to be preferentially used in the same double-pagespread or enables a weight to be applied according to the slot size.

As mentioned earlier, the double-page spread creation parameters (firstparameter and second parameter) are parameters different for commondouble-page spreads and individual double-page spreads. This allowsimages to be selected based on different double-page spread criteria,and therefore common double-page spreads and individual double-pagespreads are created as different double-page spreads.

The double-page spread joining component 211 joins the pieces ofdouble-page spread data created by the double-page spread creationcomponent 210. Specifically, the double-page spread joining component211 determines the order of the double-page spreads created by thedouble-page spread creation component 210 to create the entire layout ofeach album.

The layout information output component 212 outputs album data accordingto the entire layout of each album created by the double-page spreadjoining component 211. The album data is, for example, image data of abitmap format in which images are placed according to predeterminedlayouts.

The album information output component 213 outputs album informationused in the album creation. The album information contains, for example,album configuration information and album generation information. Thealbum configuration information is configuration information forming analbum such as used image information, image arrangement information,template information, slot shape-size information, background colorinformation, cropping information, text/stamp editing information, andcommon/individual page information. The album generation information isgeneration information used in the generation of the album data such asthe album creation conditions, the analysis information on the images,the score information, and the scene information. Incidentally, bygenerating an album with this album generation information, the samealbum can be generated. The album data itself may be contained in thealbum information. This information is output on an album-by-albumbasis.

The album display component 214 performs display control for displayingthe bitmap data output by the layout information output component 212 onthe display 105.

The album information holding component 215 receives and holds the albuminformation output by the album information output component 213. In acase where an album is updated as a result of album editing or the like,the album information holding component receives and holds albuminformation matching the update. The album information here containsalbum change information as well as the above-mentioned albumconfiguration information and album generation information. The albumchange information may be, for example, a user operation history onalbum editing or difference information changed as a result of the albumediting. These pieces of information are held on an album-by-albumbasis.

After the program of the album creation application in the presentembodiment is installed in the image processing apparatus 100, thisapp's launch icon is displayed in the top screen (desktop) of theoperating system (OS) running on the image processing apparatus 100.Upon a double-click on the launch icon in the desktop displayed on thedisplay 105 by the user with the mouse 107, the program of the albumcreation application stored in the HDD 104 is loaded to the RAM 103.Then, the program loaded to the RAM 103 is executed by the CPU 101, sothat the album creation application is launched. The above are thecontents of the software configuration of the image processing apparatusin the present embodiment. Note that the application may be in adifferent form. For example, it may be a web app that displays screensand the like in a browser running on the image processing apparatus 100.

<GUI Screen>

A GUI screen of the album creation application in the present embodimentwill be described below using FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating aGUI screen 401 that is provided by the album creation applicationlaunched and is displayed on the display 105. The user can set the albumcreation conditions via the GUI screen 401.

The GUI screen 401 has a path box 402 and a folder selection button 403as parts for setting photo images to be included in albums. The path box402 is a box for indicating the storage location (path), in the HDD 104,of the image group to be used in the album creation. The folderselection button 403 is a button for selecting the folder containing theimage group to be used in the album creation. In response to the userclicking the folder selection button 403 with the mouse 107, a treeincluding a plurality of folders is displayed. Then, in response to theuser selecting the folder containing the image group to be used in thealbum creation, a folder path to the selected folder is displayed in thepath box 402.

A double-page spread number box 404 is a box for designating the totalnumber of double-page spreads per album. The user can directly enter anumber into the double-page spread number box 404 with the keyboard 106or enter a number into the double-page spread number box 404 from a listwith the mouse 107. An album number box 410 is a box for designating thenumber of albums to be created.

A main subject designation part 405 is an element for designating themain subject to be emphasized in each of the number of albums entered inthe album number box 410. For example, the user can designate the mainsubject by dragging an image with the main subject and dropping it intothe main subject designation part 405 with the mouse 107. In oneexample, the person A, the person B, etc. mentioned above with referenceto FIG. 3 are designated.

A double-page spread photo number setting part 406 is a slider bar forsetting the number of images to be placed in each double-page spread ineach album to be created. Moving the slider to “MORE” side increases thenumber of images to be placed in each double-page spread. On the otherhand, moving the slider to “LESS” side decreases the number of images tobe placed in each double-page spread.

A material designation part 407 is an element for setting material ofthe albums to be created. As specific items related to the material tobe set, the size of the albums and the paper type of the albums can beemployed. The type of the cover and the type of the binding part may beset as well.

An OK button 408 is a button for determining selected conditions as thealbum creation conditions. In response to the user clicking the OKbutton 408 with the mouse 107, the album creation conditions are fixedand transferred to the automatic layout processing component 202 via thealbum creation condition setting component 201. Specifically, theinformation on the path entered in the path box 402 is transferred tothe image obtaining component 203. The value of the total number ofdouble-page spreads entered in the double-page spread number box 404 istransferred to the double-page spread creation component 210. The valueof the number of albums entered in the album number box 410 and theinformation on the main subject designated in the main subjectdesignation part 405 are transferred to the double-page spread creationparameter generation component 209.

A reset button 409 is a button for resetting the setting contents in thedisplay screen. The above are the contents of the GUI screen of thealbum creation application in the present embodiment.

<Automatic Layout Process>

An automatic layout process in the present embodiment will be describedbelow using FIG. 5A. FIG. 5A is a flowchart of a process of executingautomatic layout by the album creation application according to thepresent embodiment. Note that the CPU 101 implements the flowchartsillustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5C by reading out a program stored in the HDD104 into the ROM 102 or the RAM 103 and executing it, for example.

In step S501, the album creation condition setting component 201 setsthe album creation conditions. In the following, “step S_” will beabbreviated simply as “S_”. In the present embodiment, the image groupto be used for each album, the number of double-page spreads, the numberof albums, the main subject of each album, whether the number of imagesto be placed in each double-page spread is large or small, and thematerial with which to create the albums are set as the album creationconditions (see FIG. 4).

In S502, the image obtaining component 203 reads an image satisfying theconditions for the image group to be used for the albums set in S501from the HDD 104. The image obtaining component 203 then loads the readimage into the RAM 103.

In S503, the image analysis component 204 analyzes the image loaded inthe RAM 103 in S502. Here, the image analysis in this step will bedescribed using FIG. 5B.

In S50301, the image analysis component 204 obtains information on theimage capture date and time of the piece of image data obtained by theimage obtaining component 203. In the present embodiment, the imageanalysis component 204 obtains the information on the image capture dateand time of the piece of image data based on the Exif informationattached to it.

In S50302, the image analysis component 204 derives an image-qualityfeature amount of the piece of image data obtained by the imageobtaining component 203. The image-quality feature amount is, forexample, in-focus degree. An edge detection method can be used as amethod of determining the in-focus degree, and a publicly known Sobelfilter can be used as the edge detection method. The Sobel filter may beused to detect edges in the image, and the difference in luminancebetween the start and the end of each edge may be divided by thedistance between the start and the end to calculate the luminancegradient, i.e., the gradient of the edge. By calculating the averagegradient of the edges in the image, an image with a large averagegradient can be determined to be in sharper focus than an image with asmall average gradient. In the present embodiment, a plurality ofthreshold values are set for measuring the degree of the calculatedaverage gradient of the edges. By determining which threshold value thecalculated gradient of the edges is greater than or equal to, whetherthe degree is an acceptable in-focus degree is determined. Specifically,as two different gradient threshold values, a first gradient thresholdvalue and a second gradient threshold value (note that first gradientthreshold value>second gradient threshold value) are set to determinethe in-focus degree by three levels of A, B, and C. In a case where theaverage gradient of the edges in the image is greater than or equal tothe first threshold value, the in-focus degree is a preferred in-focusdegree (indicated as A). In a case where the average gradient of theedges in the image is less than the first threshold value and greaterthan or equal to the second threshold value, the in-focus degree is anacceptable in-focus degree (indicated as B). In a case where the averagegradient of the edges in the image is less than the second thresholdvalue, the in-focus degree is an unacceptable in-focus degree (indicatedas C).

In S50303, the image analysis component 204 detects objects in the pieceof image data obtained by the image obtaining component 203 and alsoclassifies the detected objects. In the present embodiment, faces aredetected as the objects. Here, any publicly known method is usable as aface detection method. For example, AdaBoost, which creates a strongclassifier from a plurality of prepared weak classifiers, can be used assuch a publicly known method. In the present embodiment, a strongclassifier created by AdaBoost is used to detect the faces of persons.In S50303, while detecting faces, the image analysis component 204 alsoobtains an upper left coordinate value and a lower right coordinatevalue of the region of each face in the image. Deriving these twocoordinate values makes it possible to specify the position and size ofeach face. Further, AdaBoost that detects animals such as dogs and catsand dishes like that for the faces of persons is also executed. In thisway, it is possible to detect objects including persons, animals, anddishes and also classify the objects in the image. Note that the objectsto be detected are not limited to the above, and may be flowers,buildings, stationary articles, or the like. Also, while a case of usingAdaBoost to detect (and classify) objects has been described here, alearned model with a neutral network or the like may be used to detect(and classify) objects.

In S50304, the image analysis component 204 performs personalrecognition on the faces detected by the image analysis component 204.Firstly, the image analysis component 204 performs derives the degree ofsimilarity between each extracted facial image and representative facialimages stored in association with personal IDs in a face dictionarydatabase. Then, the personal ID whose degree of similarity thus derivedis greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value and is thehighest is determined as an ID corresponding to the extracted facialimage. That is, the person corresponding to the personal ID whose degreeof similarity is greater than or equal to the predetermined thresholdvalue and is the highest is specified as the person of the extractedfacial image. The image analysis component 204 obtains the degree ofsimilarity of each facial image in the process target image for each ofthe plurality of representative facial images. Note that in a case whereall of the degrees of similarity derived for the respective personal IDsare less than the predetermined threshold value, the person of theextracted facial image is assumed as a new person, and a new personal IDis assigned and registered in the face dictionary database. The facedictionary database is stored in the HDD 104, for example.

The description now returns to FIG. 5A. In S504, the image analysiscomponent 204 determines whether the processes in S502 to S503 have beencompleted for all images in the image group satisfying the conditionsset in S501. In a case where the result of the determination in thisstep is positive, the flow proceeds to S505. On the other hand, in acase where the result of the determination is negative, the flow returnsto S502.

In S505, the scene division component 206 performs scene division on theimage group obtained by the image obtaining component 203. The scenedivision refers to the division of the obtained image group into aplurality of sub image groups by using image information. Specifically,by using the information on the image capture date and time obtained inS50301 as the image information, the image group is divided into aplurality of sub image groups based on the time difference between theimage capture dates and times of images. An example of the actualdivision is as follows.

Focusing firstly on the image with the oldest (or newest) image capturetime in the image group, its time difference from the next oldest(newest) image is calculated, and whether or not the calculated timedifference is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold valueis determined. Such a process is performed on all images by sequentiallyswitching the image of interest to an image with a newer (or older)image capture time. Note that “division” in the present embodiment meansdividing the image group such that each two images are sorted as a newerone and an older one based on their image capture time. In the presentembodiment, in a case where the difference between the image capturetime of the image of interest and the image capture time of the nextoldest (newest) image is 16 hours or longer, the image group is dividedsuch that these images belong to different sub image groups. Note thatthe threshold value for the time difference to be used in the divisionis not limited to the above value. FIG. 6 illustrates the result ofdivision of an image group by the above scene division method.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the information on the imagecapture date and time is used to perform the scene division, but theinformation to be used is not limited to this one. For example,information on the image capture location may be used to divide theimage group such that images captured at near locations belong to thesame scene. In another example, a personal recognition result may beused. For example, yearbook images of students belonging to a givengroup (class, club, etc.) may be registered in the application inadvance, and an image group as a batch of images with any of thestudents belonging to the group may be considered a single scene (subimage group). In still another example, information other than the imageinformation may be used. Here, a method of gathering similar events as asingle scene will be described. The name of a folder storing images ortag information attached to them in a social networking service or thelike is obtained as meta information attached to the images. Forexample, with search words such as “sports meeting” or “school trip”, animage group with meta information containing the search words isconsidered a single scene. To designate search words, the user mayselect ones from among search words pre-incorporated in the applicationvia the album creation condition setting component 201, or enter searchwords into a text box.

In S506, the scene classification component 207 performs sceneclassification on each of the sub image groups obtained in S505. Notethat the following will exemplarily describe a case of classifying eachsub image group (each scene) into one of three categories of “trip”,“daily life”, and “ceremony”, but the classification items are notlimited to these.

Firstly, a plurality of sub image groups each determined in advance tobe classified as trip, daily life, or ceremony are obtained and, foreach of the plurality of sub image groups thus obtained, image-capturefeature amounts are obtained. The image-capture feature amounts obtainedhere are, for example, the image capture period, the number of imagescaptured, and the number of people photographed. The image captureperiod is the time difference between the image capture time of theoldest image among the images included in the sub image group and theimage capture time of the newest image among the same. The number ofimages captured is the number of images (i.e., the number of photos)included in the sub image group. The number of people photographed isthe number of faces in the images with a face(s), and is the number offaces per image. With the plurality of sub image groups, the averagevalue and standard deviation of the image capture periods, the averagevalue and standard deviation of the numbers of images captured, and theaverage value and standard deviation of the numbers of people per imageare derived. Note that in the present embodiment, the number of facesper image is assumed as the number of people per image.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the average and standard deviation ofthe image capture periods (times), the average and standard deviation ofthe numbers of images captured, and the average and standard deviationof the numbers of people per image derived with the plurality of subimage groups. These values derived are incorporated in the program ofthe album creation application in advance. That is, at the stage ofdesigning the application, parameters are generated by learning usingimages collected in advance, and the generated parameters areincorporated in the program. After the album creation application islaunched, the average values of the image capture periods, the numbersof images captured, and the numbers of people per image are calculatedwith the sub image groups obtained as a result of the division in S505of the image group designated by the user via the path box 402. Then,scores are calculated for each scene by following the equations belowwith the above-mentioned parameters pre-incorporated in the app(specifically, the average value and standard deviation of each featureamount, or the image capture period, the number of images captured, andthe number of people photographed, of the sub image groups).Score for Each Scene and Each Feature Amount=50−|10×(Average Value ofFeature Amount for Scene−Feature Amount of Each Sub ImageGroup)/Standard Deviation of Feature Amount for Scene|  Equation (1)Average Score for Each Scene=(Score for Image Capture Period forScene+Score for Number of Images Captured for Scene+Score for Number ofPeople Photographed for Scene)/Number of Items as FeatureAmounts  Equation (2)

By Equation (1), the score of the sub image group of interest for eachfeature amount is derived for each scene. For example, the scores forthe image capture period, the number of images captured, and the numberof people photographed are derived for trip scene. These scores areaveraged by Equation (2) as a score for trip scene. The scores for theother scenes, namely, daily life scene and ceremony scene, are obtainedin a similar manner as well. By the method described above, an averagescore for trip scene, an average score for daily life scene, and anaverage score for ceremony scene are calculated for each sub imagegroup. Note that the number of items as feature amounts in Equation (2)is 3.

Of the scenes scored for each sub image group, the scene with thehighest score is classified as the scene of this sub image group. In acase where two or more scenes are given the same score, sceneclassification is performed according to their degrees of priority setin advance. For example, in the present embodiment, the order ofpriority is determined in advance as daily life>ceremony>trip, so thatdaily life has the highest priority. Note that the order of priority isnot limited to the above, and also the configuration may be such thatthe user can change the order of priority.

Sub image groups (1) to (8) in FIG. 6 represent the sub image groupsobtained by the scene division of the image group. Assume that, with thesub image group (5) among these sub image groups, the image captureperiod is 36 hours, the number of images captured is 300, and the numberof people photographed is 1.7. Assume also that, with these, the averagescore is 45.32 for trip, 18.38 for daily life, and −29.92 for ceremony.In this case, the scene of the sub image group (5) is classified astrip. The sub image group thus classified is managed in association witha scene ID so that its scene can be identified. Note that in the presentembodiment, a case of employing the image capture period, the number ofimages captured, and the number of people photographed as theimage-capture feature amounts has been described, but the image-capturefeature amounts are not limited to these. For example, with imagesegmentation using machine learning, a flag indicating, for example,whether sky is in the image may be employed as a feature amount in orderto identify whether the scene is indoor or outdoor. Alternatively,ceremony may be classified further into more specific categories. Forexample, consider a case of classifying a scene as a wedding ceremony ora wedding reception. In this case, by using a personal recognitionresult, the two persons appearing most frequently among all images areassumed as the bride and groom. Then, a scene containing many imageswith only the bride and groom may be classified as the wedding ceremony,while a scene containing many images with the bride and groom and alsoother people with them may be classified as the wedding reception.Further, the feature amounts may be derived by machine learning. Forexample, a scene desired to be classified and an image grouprepresenting this scene may be prepared, and a convolution neuralnetwork (CNN) may be used to perform learning such that each image is aninput and the result of scene classification thereof is an output.

In S507, the main subject setting component 205 sets the main subject ofeach album. In the present embodiment, the main subject settingcomponent 205 obtains information on each album's main subject sent fromthe album creation condition setting component 201. An example ofcreating three types of albums has been generally described in thepresent embodiment. However, for a simple description, an example ofsetting the main subjects of two types of albums will be described belowin which the main subject A is set for the album 1 and the main subjectB is set for the album 2.

In S508, the image scoring component 208 scores an image. This processwill be referred to as the image scoring process. “Scores” to be derivedin this step are parameters for evaluating the suitability of use in analbum(s). Each piece of image data is given scores based on anevaluation from the points of view to be described later, and thesescores are referred to in the image selection to be described later. Inthe present embodiment, a score is given for each main subject set inS507, in addition to a score based on the degree of image quality.Firstly, a score corresponding to the image-quality feature amountderived in S50302 is given. In this example, 1 point is given in a casewhere the in-focus degree is A (good), 0.5 point is given in a case of B(acceptable), and 0 point is given in a case of C (unacceptable). Inthis way, an in-focus image can be scored high. Note that in the presentembodiment, the in-focus degree is employed as the image-quality featureamount, but the image-quality feature amount is not limited to this one.For example, the image size may be used, photographic information suchas information on the lens used to capture the image may be used, or thecompression format of the image input into the application may be used.

After giving the score corresponding to the image-quality featureamount, the image scoring component 208 gives a score for each set mainsubject. That is, in this example, each single image is given threetypes of scores, specifically, scores based on an evaluation from threepoints of view of: whether the image quality is good; whether the mainsubject A is in the image; and whether the main subject B is in theimage. For the scoring for each main subject, it is possible to use thesize of the face(s) derived in S50303 and the result of the personalrecognition in S50304. In a case where the main subject is not in theimage, 0 point is given. In a case where the main subject is in theimage, the ratio of the face of the person set as the main subject tothe image size is set as the score for the main subject. Note that inthe present embodiment, the score for each main subject is given byusing the facial size, but something other than the facial size may beused. For example, the facial expression of the person set as the mainsubject may be determined, and a point(s) may be given in a case wherethe person is smiling. Also, in a case where non-human main subjects areset, the result of the object detection and classification in S50303 isused to perform scoring similarly according to the object size. By theabove process, the score for the image quality, the score for the mainsubject A, and the score for the main subject B are calculated for thefirst image, for example. For an image with the main subject A andwithout the main subject B, for example, a score is calculated from eachpoint of view such that the score for the image quality is 1 point, thescore for the main subject A is 1 point, and the score for the mainsubject B is 0 point.

In S509, the image scoring component 208 determines whether the scoringin S508 has been completed for all images in the image group obtained bythe image obtaining component 203. In a case where the result of thedetermination in this step is positive, the flow proceeds to S510. Onthe other hand, in a case where the result of the determination isnegative, the flow returns to S508.

In S510, the double-page spread creation parameter generation component209 receives the album creation conditions from the album creationcondition setting component 201 and also receives information on themain subject of each album from the main subject setting component 205,and generates the double-page spread creation parameters. As mentionedearlier, the double-page spread creation parameters are setting valuesto be used to select the constituent images of double-page spreads andto lay them out. For example, the double-page spread creation parametergeneration component 209 generates a weight for controlling whether toprioritize the score for the image quality or to prioritize the scorefor each main subject in the selection of images to be used in thedouble-page spreads based on the scores given to each image in S508, athreshold value that serves as a reference point for image selection, orthe like. The double-page spread creation parameter generation component209 generates a “common parameter” which is common to all albums and an“individual parameter” which is different for each album as thedouble-page spread creation parameters. Specifically, the double-pagespread creation parameter generation component 209 generates (the numberof albums+1) double-page spread creation parameters. In this way, it ispossible to create a “common double-page spread” which has the sameconstituent images in the same arrangement and appears in the pluralityof albums, and “individual double-page spreads” each of which hasspecific constituent images in a specific arrangement and appears in aspecific album. Moreover, by using each of these double-page spreadcreation parameters (first parameter), the double-page spread creationcomponent 210 derives a representative score of each image from thescores given to the image in S508 (in this example, the three types ofscores). That is, for each single image, the same number of scores asthe number of double-page spread creation parameters are derived.Moreover, the scores thus derived are used to select the images to beplaced in the double-page spreads. For example, in the creation of thedouble-page spreads, the score of an image X obtained by using thecommon parameter and the score of the image X obtained by using eachindividual parameter are different. In the following, the double-pagespread creation parameters and an example of deriving the scores of animage by using the double-page spread creation parameters in thecreation of double-page spreads will be described.

In the present embodiment, as the common parameter, a weight is set suchthat the scores given to the image are evaluated evenly. Arepresentative score ^(I)score_(S) of an image I in a case of using acommon parameter w_(i) is represented by Equation (3) below.^(I)score_(S)=Σ_(i) w _(i)·^(I)score_(i)  Equation (3)

Here, ^(I)score_(i) represents the i-th score given to the image I, andw_(i) represents the weight for each score. In the present embodiment,w_(i)=1/3 is set to evenly evaluate the score for the image quality, thescore for the main subject A, and the score for the main subject B. Inthis way, an image which has higher image quality and in which morepeople with higher scores appear is prioritized. This example assumesthat a score corresponding to a type of priority mentioned earlier, suchas whether cropping has been performed, has been reflected in the scorefor the image quality.

On the other hand, as each individual parameter, weights forprioritizing an image with the main subject of the corresponding albumis set. A representative score ^(I)score₁ of an image I in a case ofusing an individual parameter w_(o) is represented by Equation (4)below.

I score I = { 0 ( I score o = 0 ) w q · I ⁢ score q + w o · I ⁢ score o 2( otherwise ) Equation ⁢ ( 4 )

Here, ^(I)score_(q) represents the score for the image quality given tothe image I, ^(I)score_(o) represents the score for a main subject Ogiven to the image I, w_(q) represents a weight for the score for theimage quality, and w_(o) represents a weight for the main subject O. Inthe present embodiment, w_(q)=w_(o)=1 is set. In this way, only theimages with the main subject are evaluated, and the images to beprioritized are determined by the image quality and the size of the mainsubject. Note that, in the present embodiment, weights to be applied toscores are used as the double-page spread creation parameters, but thedouble-page spread parameters are not limited to these. Also, ‘scoresand’score, are both derived such that the scores are high in the casewhere the main subject is in the image, but are not limited to these.For an image in which the main subject does not appear at all, such as ascenic image, its score may be calculated based, instead, on the scorefor the image quality, image information, or the like. For example, foran image whose difference in image capture time from a high-score imageis small, the score for the image quality may be used as itsrepresentative score. In this way, an image that is likely to beassociated with an image with the main subject can be scored high. Also,the score may be derived with such an association or the like specifiedas a weight.

In S511, the double-page spread creation component 210 createsdouble-page spread data of each album by using the parameters generatedin S510. The double-page spread creation component 210 creates thedouble-page spread data such that the score of each double-page spreadwill be high. The score of a double-page spread is a score obtained bysumming the scores of the images in the double-page spread, as mentionedearlier. Specifically, it is the sum of scores obtained by multiplyingthe scores of the images obtained according to the first parameter bythe second parameter. Note that, as mentioned earlier, the score of adouble-page spread is, for example, the sum of the scores of its imageseach multiplied by a weight corresponding to the size of the slot forplacing the image. In this example, firstly, candidate images aredetermined followed by layout which involves determining their slots andarrangement. In this way, a high-score double-page spread is created.Here, the double-page spread creation process in this step will bedescribed using FIGS. 2B and 5C. FIG. 2B is a detailed block diagram ofthe double-page spread creation component 210. FIG. 5C is a detailedflowchart of the double-page spread creation in S511.

In S51101, a double-page spread creation parameter setting component21001 reads one of the parameters generated in S510. In the presentembodiment, the parameters are read in turn in the order of theindividual parameter for the album 1, the individual parameter for thealbum 2, and the common parameter.

In S51102, based on the scores given in S508 and the double-page spreadcreation parameter set in S51101, a double-page spread candidate imageobtaining component 21002 obtains candidate images usable in thedouble-page spread(s) from the entire image group obtained by the imageobtaining component 203. In the present embodiment, based on the scoresderived in S508 and the double-page spread creation parameter set inS51101, each image is scored again in a manner described above byfollowing Equation (3) or (4) (re-scoring of each image). Then, imageswhose score obtained as a result of the re-scoring is greater than orequal to a predetermined threshold value are obtained as candidateimages. Specifically, in S51102 in the first round in this example, eachimage is re-scored using the individual parameter for the album 1. Then,images whose score obtained by using the individual parameter for thealbum 1 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value areobtained as candidate images. In a case where there is no candidateimage, the image with the highest score is set as a candidate image.Note that the candidate images are obtained from the entire image group,but the configuration is not limited to this case. The images alreadyselected in the image selection process to be described later may beexcluded.

In S51103, a double-page spread number setting component 21003determines whether the double-page spread creation parameter set in therecent S51101 is an individual parameter. In a case where the result ofthe determination in this step is positive, the flow proceeds to S51104.On the other hand, in a case where the result of the determination isnegative, the flow proceeds to S51105.

In a case of YES in S51103 (that is, in a case where an individualparameter has been set in the recent S51101), the flow proceeds toS51104. In S51104, the double-page spread number setting component 21003sets the number of double-page spreads (i.e., the number of individualdouble-page spreads corresponding to the individual parameter set inS51101) based on the result of the scene division performed in S505 andthe candidate images obtained in S51102. In the present embodiment, thenumber of double-page spreads is set by following Equation (5) or (6)below.Number of Double-Page Spreads for Each Scene=ceil(Number of CandidateImages in Scene÷Maximum Number of Images per Double-PageSpread)  Equation (5)Number of Individual Double-Page Spreads=Σ Number of Double-Page Spreadsfor Each Scene  Equation (6)

By Equations (5) and (6), the number of double-page spreads to becreated with the individual parameter is derived. The maximum number ofimages per double-page spread is set based on a user input via thedouble-page spread photo number setting part 406. For example, in a casewhere the scene division has been done as illustrated in FIG. 6, thenumber of double-page spreads for each scene is determined according tothe number of candidate images in the scene. Each scene always containsan image(s) obtained by the image obtaining component 203 but does notalways contain a candidate image(s) (a candidate image(s) obtained as aresult of the re-scoring based on the individual parameter). In thisprocess (the process corresponding to the individual parameter), thenumber of double-page spreads is 0 for a scene containing no candidateimage, as a matter of course. On the other hand, a scene containing manyimages with the main subject corresponding to the individual parameteris allocated a corresponding number of double-page spreads. Note that ina case where the number of individual double-page spreads is greaterthan or equal to the total number of double-page spreads set in S501,Equation (7) below is applied.Number of Individual Double-Page Spreads=Total Number of Double-PageSpreads−1  Equation (7)

By Equation (7), double-page spreads created with different parameters,or the individual parameter and the common parameter, can both becontained within a single album. Thus, the number of individualdouble-page spreads can be set on a scene-by-scene basis according tothe number of images in which the main subject appears with high imagequality. Note that an upper limit value and a lower limit value may beset for the number of individual double-page spreads.

On the other hand, in a case of NO in S51103 (i.e., the common parameterhas been set in the recent S51101), then in S51105, the double-pagespread number setting component 21003 sets the number of double-pagespreads by following Equation (8) below.Number of Common Double-Page Spreads=Total Number of Double-PageSpreads−MIN(Total Number of Individual Double-Page Spreads in EachAlbum)   Equation (8)

By Equation (8), it is possible to set a number of common double-pagespreads that is adjusted to both the number of individual double-pagespreads and the total number of double-page spreads. Incidentally,according to Equation (8), the number of common double-page spreads isderived according to the number of individual double-page spreads in thealbum having the smallest number of individual double-page spreads.Hence, for the other album, the sum of the number of individualdouble-page spreads in that album and the number of common double-pagespreads by Equation (8) exceeds the total number of double-page spreadsthat has been set. The processing in this case is such that anadjustment is made in the double-page spread joining process to bedescribed later.

Note that a case of setting the number of double-page spreads accordingto the number of candidate images has been described above, but themethod of setting the number of double-page spreads is not limited tothis method. For example, the double-page spread creation parametergeneration component 209 may set the number of double-page spreads in aparameter, and the double-page spread number setting component 21003 mayread the number of double-page spreads set in the parameter. Also, forexample, the double-page spread creation parameter generation component209 may set a given number of double-page spreads pre-incorporated inthe program of the album creation application, or calculate the numberof double-page spreads based on a user-designated ratio of individualdouble-page spreads and common double-page spreads. The number ofindividual double-page spreads and the number of common double-pagespreads have been described together above. In the following, thedescription of the processing for each parameter set in S51101 will becontinued.

In S51106, a double-page spread allocation component 21004 divides thecandidate images obtained in S51102 (i.e., candidate imagescorresponding to the process-target double-page spread creationparameter) into the same number of sub image groups as the number ofdouble-page spreads set in S51104 or S51105, and allocates them. In thepresent embodiment, the candidate images are sorted in order of theimage capture time obtained in S50301 and divided at a point where thetime difference between the image capture times of neighboring images islarge. Such a process is performed until the candidate images aredivided into the number of double-page spreads set in S51104 or S51105.In other words, the division is performed (the number of double-pagespreads−1) times. In this way, albums in which images are arranged inorder of image capture time can be created. In sum, although division asexplained in FIG. 6 is performed, the division differs from the exampleexplained in FIG. 6 in that the image group to be divided is a candidateimage group corresponding to the process-target double-page spreadcreation parameter obtained in S51102. Note that the process in S51106may be performed on a scene-by-scene basis. For example, the double-pagespread allocation component 21004 sorts images allocated as a trip sceneamong the candidate images in order of candidate time and divides them.The double-page spread allocation component 21004 subsequently arrangesimages allocated as a daily life scene in order of candidate time anddivides them. The double-page spread allocation component 21004 mayperform a division process while switching the scene as described above.

In S51107, from the candidate image group(s) allocated to aprocess-target double-page spread in S51106, a double-page spread imageselection component 21005 selects images to be used in the layout. Atthis point, the number of candidate image groups allocated to theprocess-target double-page spread may be greater than the maximum numberof images per double-page spread. The number may of course be equal orsmaller. That is, the images to be used in the layout have not beendetermined and thus a process of selecting the images to be used in thelayout is performed in S51107. In the following, a case of selectingfour images from a candidate image group allocated to a givendouble-page spread will be exemplarily described using FIGS. 8A to 8I.

FIG. 8A illustrates the time difference between the image capture datesand times of the first and last images included in the candidate imagegroup allocated to the double-page spread, in other words, the imagecapture period of the candidate image group. A method of selecting thefirst image in the case of selecting four images will be described usingFIG. 8B. Of all images captured in the image capture period of thecandidate image group illustrated in FIG. 8B, the image whose scoreobtained by the re-scoring in S51102 is the highest is selected as thefirst image. In the selection of the second and subsequent images, theimage capture period of the candidate image group is segmented and theimages are selected from the segmented periods to prevent the imagesfrom being selected concentratedly from one part of the image captureperiod of the candidate image group. Firstly, as illustrated in FIG. 8C,the image capture period of the candidate image group is divided intotwo image capture sections (periods). Specifically, the image captureperiod is divided in half into two image capture sections (divided intotwo groups). Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8D, from among the imagesbelonging to the image capture section where the first image was notselected (the solid-line section), the image with the highest score isselected as the second image. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8E, the imagecapture sections in FIG. 8D are each divided in half From among theimages captured in the image capture sections illustrated with the solidlines in FIG. 8F, i.e., the two image capture sections where neither thefirst image nor the second image was selected (the images correspondingto the two image capture sections), the image with the highest score isselected as the third image.

Next, a case where there is no image in the image capture section fromwhich an image is supposed to be selected and thus no image can beselected will be described by taking the selection of the fourth imageas an example. In the present embodiment, the image capture period isdivided according to time, regardless of the number of images. This maylead to a case where there is no image in an image capture sectionobtained by the division. For example, assume that, as illustrated inFIG. 8G, the fourth image should be selected from the image capturesection where no image has been selected (the image capture sectionillustrated with the diagonal lines) but there is no image in this imagecapture section. In such a case, as illustrated in FIG. 8H, each imagecapture section where an image has been selected is divided into twosections. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8I, from among the imagescaptured in the image capture sections illustrated with the solid linesin FIG. 8I, from which none of the first to third images was selected,the image with the highest score is selected as the fourth image. Evenin a case where the number of images to be selected is increased ordecreased from four, the images are selected in a similar manner to theabove.

The description now returns to FIG. 5C. In S51108, a template settingcomponent 21006 selectively sets a plurality of templates to be used inthe layout from among templates stored in the HDD 104. In this step,templates with designs satisfying the album creation conditions set inS501 are set.

In S51109, a double-page spread layout component 21007 determines theimage layout of the process-target double-page spread. Specifically, thedouble-page spread layout component 21007 determines a template suitablefor laying out the images selected in S51107 from among the plurality oftemplates set in S51108. Now, a method of determining the template inthis step will be described using FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram offunctions related to the determining of the template.

A selected image information obtaining component 901 obtains the numberof images selected by the double-page spread image selection component21005 and image information on each of these images. The imageinformation obtained is the image's width and height, image capture dateand time information, and scores calculated by the image scoringcomponent 208. A template selection component 902 selects templateshaving the same number of slots as the number of selected images fromamong the templates set by the template setting component 21006. Aselected image sorting component 903 sorts the selected images in orderof image capture time. A template selection component 904 selects, fromamong the templates selected by the template selection component 902,templates in each of which the sequential position of its main slot toplace a main image matches that of the main image arranged in order ofimage capture time. Here, “main image” refers to the image whose scoreobtained as a result of the re-scoring in S51102 is the highest amongthe plurality of images selected by the double-page spread imageselection component 21005. Of the plurality of images, the images otherthan the main image are “sub images”. In this template selection, notonly a match between the sequential positions but also a match betweenthe aspect ratio of the main image and the aspect ratio of the slot toplace the main image is a condition for the selection. In the presentembodiment, the older the image capture time of the image, the closer itis laid out to the upper left of the template, and the newer the imagecapture time of the image, the closer it is laid out to the lower rightof the template. A template selection component 905 selects, from amongthe templates selected by the template selection component 904, atemplate in which its slots to place the sub images match the sequentialpositions of the sub images arranged in order of image capture time andthe aspect ratios of the images and those of the slots match each other.FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the template determination process.

In S1001, the selected image information obtaining component 901 obtainsselected image information. The selected image information obtained inthis step contains the number of selected images. For the sake ofdescription, the following assumes that the number of selected images isthree.

In S1002, the template selection component 902 selects templates withthe same number of slots as the number of selected images. This exampleassumes that the number of selected images obtained in S1001 is threeand templates with three slots are selected. The following descriptionwill be given by taking as an example a case where templates (1-1) to(4-4) illustrated in FIG. 11 are selected in S1002.

In S1003, the selected image sorting component 903 sorts the selectedimages in order of image capture time. Here, assume that therelationship illustrated in (A) of FIG. 11 is obtained as a result ofsorting the selected images in order of image capture time. Assume alsothat an image 1105 is the main image, and images 1106 and 1107 are thesub images.

In S1004, the template selection component 904 selects templates in eachof which the position where its slot for the main image (hereinafter themain slot) is disposed matches the position where the main image isplaced in the case of sorting in order of image capture time. Further,the template selection component 904 selects templates in each of whichthe aspect ratio of the main slot matches that of the main image. Inthis example, the image 1105 is the image for the main slot with thenewest image capture time and is an image with a portrait aspect ratio.Thus, the templates (3-1) to (3-4) in FIG. 11 are candidate templates.

In S1005, the template selection component 905 selects a template inwhich the aspect ratios of its slots for the sub images (hereinafter thesub slots) match those of the sub images. In the example of FIG. 11, theolder image 1106 for a sub slot, i.e., the image desired to be placed atthe upper left is a portrait image, and the newer image 1107 for a subslot is a landscape image. Thus, the template (3-2) is determined as themost suitable template for the three selected images. As a result, inS51109, the template to be used for the layout of the double-page spreadand information capable of identifying which image to place in whichslot in the template are determined. Note that the information thusdetermined will be referred to as the double-page spread data.

The description now returns to FIG. 5C. In S51110, the double-pagespread layout component 21007 determines whether the processes in S51107to S51109 have been completed for all process-target double-pagespreads. In a case where the result of the determination in this step ispositive, the flow proceeds to S51111. On the other hand, in a casewhere the result of the determination is negative, the flow returns toS51107.

In S51111, the double-page spread creation parameter setting component21001 determines whether the processes in S51101 to S51110 have beencompleted for all parameters generated in S510. In a case where theresult of the determination in this step is positive, the flow proceedsto S512. On the other hand, in a case where the result of thedetermination is negative, the flow returns to S51101.

The description now returns to FIG. 5A. In S512, the double-page spreadjoining component 211 determines a double-page spread identificationnumber of each of the double-page spreads created by the double-pagespread creation component 210 within the corresponding album, andcreates the layout of the entire album. In the present embodiment, thedouble-page spreads are arranged based on the image capture times of theimages placed in the double-page spreads such that the images appear inorder of image capture time.

The joining of the double-page spreads in S512 will be described belowin detail by using FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a block diagramillustrating a detailed configuration of the double-page spread joiningcomponent 211 in the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of aprocess executed by the double-page spread joining component 211.

In S1301, a double-page spread obtaining component 1201 obtains thedouble-page spread data on one album among the double-page spreadscreated by the double-page spread creation component 210. In the presentembodiment, the double-page spread data on, for example, the album 1obtained in this step includes pieces of double-page spread data createdwith the common parameter and pieces of double-page spread data createdwith the individual parameter for the album 1.

In S1302, for each piece of double-page spread data obtained by thedouble-page spread obtaining component 1201, a sorting reference valuecalculation component 1202 calculates a reference value for sorting. Inthe present embodiment, the sorting reference value is the average imagecapture time of the images placed in the piece of double-page spreaddata. Note that the sorting reference value is not limited to the imagecapture time. For example, it may be the average image capture location(latitude and longitude) of the images placed in the double-page spreador the number of images, or image analysis information, such as a colorhistogram, may be used.

In S1303, a sorting component 1203 sorts the pieces of double-pagespread data obtained by the double-page spread obtaining component 1201based on the sorting reference value calculated by the sorting referencevalue calculation component 1202. In the present embodiment, the sortingcomponent 1203 sorts the double-page spreads in ascending order ofaverage image capture time.

In S1304, a double-page spread number adjustment component 1204determines whether the number of pieces of double-page spread data onthe process-target album is the same as the total number of double-pagespreads set in S501. In a case where the result of the determination inthis step is positive, the flow proceeds to S1306. On the other hand, ina case where the result of the determination in this step is negative,that is, in a case where the number of double-page spreads in theprocess-target album has been set to be greater than or equal to thetotal number of double-page spreads in S51104 and thus the number ofdouble-page spreads in the album exceeds the total number of double-pagespreads, the flow proceeds to S1305.

In S1305, a double-page spread number adjustment component 1204 adjuststhe number of double-page spreads in the album to bring it closer to thetotal number of double-page spreads set in S501 by deleting anunnecessary piece(s) of double-page spread data among the pieces ofdouble-page spread data obtained by the double-page spread obtainingcomponent 1201. In the present embodiment, the number of double-pagespreads is adjusted by deleting a piece of common double-page spreaddata. Specifically, of the pieces of common double-page spread data inthe album, the piece of common double-page spread data whose imagecapture time calculated by the sorting reference value calculationcomponent 1202 is the closest to the image capture time of any of thepieces of individual double-page spread data is deleted. After thedeletion, the flow proceeds to S1304. Note that in the presentembodiment, a piece of common double-page spread data is deleted but thedeletion target is not limited to this one. A piece of individualdouble-page spread data may be deleted to adjust the total number ofdouble-page spreads.

In S1306, the double-page spread obtaining component 1201 determineswhether the processes in S1301 to S1305 have been completed for allalbums. In a case where the result of the determination in this step ispositive, the flow proceeds to S513. On the other hand, in a case wherethe result of the determination is negative, the flow returns to S1301.In this way, images can be arranged in order of image capture timethroughout each entire album. The above are the contents of theautomatic layout process in the present embodiment. In the presentembodiment, the numbers and positions of common double-page spreads andindividual double-page spreads can be automatically set on analbum-by-album basis. It is possible to implement automatic layout of aplurality of albums with different main subjects such that the pluralityof albums have a common double-page spread(s) which is(are) the same forall albums and an individual double-page spread(s) which is(are)different for each album.

<<Album Data Editing Process>>

<General Description of Editing Process>

A description has been given so far of a process of automaticallygenerating album data having a common double-page spread(s) and anindividual double-page spread(s), each of which represents an attributeof double-page spread. In the following, functions of and processes byan album editing application with which a user can edit generated albumdata will be described. In the present embodiment, the description willbe given on the assumption that the user who performs the editing is thesame as the user who operates the album creation application, but theydo not to be the same user. In the following, a general description ofthe album data editing process will be given first, and then detailedprocesses in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 14 is a software block diagram of an album editing application 1400in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the album editingapplication 1400 will be described as part of the functionality of thealbum creation application stored in the HDD 104, but may be provided asa separate application from the album creation application. Also, theimage processing apparatus in which the album editing application islaunched may be the same apparatus as the image processing apparatus 100which generated the album data or another image processing apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the album editing application 1400 includesan editing mode instruction component 1401, an album informationreception component 1402, an album editing component 1403, an albumdisplay component 1404, and the album information holding component 215.Note that the album information holding component 215 does not have tobe included in the album editing application 1400.

The editing mode instruction component 1401 causes the album editingapplication 1400 to shift to an editing mode in a case of, for example,detecting the user clicking an editing mode panel 1508 (see FIG. 15A)with an UI operation using the mouse 107. The editing mode refers to amode in which operations to change album contents can be performed suchas adding a double-page spread, cropping, replacing an image, changingthe template, changing the size, changing the arrangement, insertingtext and/or a stamp, and deleting a double-page spread. Here, an exampleof shifting to the editing mode in response to detecting a click on theediting mode panel has been described, but the album editing application1400 may always shift to the editing mode after the generation of albumdata. Alternatively, the album editing application 1400 may shift to theediting mode in response to selecting any album.

In response to a shift to the editing mode by the editing modeinstruction component 1401, the album information reception component1402 receives album information from the album information holdingcomponent 215. The album information is, as mentioned earlier,information containing album configuration information, album generationinformation, and album change information. The album informationreception component 1402 receives the album information on analbum-by-album basis.

The album editing component 1403 uses the album information received bythe album information reception component 1402 from the albuminformation holding component 215 to edit an album(s) according to theuser's UI operation using the mouse 107 or the keyboard 106. Asmentioned earlier, the album information contains album configurationinformation and album generation information, and by using the albuminformation, it is possible to obtain album data similar to the albumdata created by the album creation application. In the case where thealbum editing component 1403 updates an album(s), the album editingcomponent 1403 outputs corresponding album information to the albuminformation holding component 215 to update the album information. Also,the album editing component 1403 is capable of creating recommendationsto be displayed to the user during album editing. Examples of therecommendations include a recommended image as a replacement in thedouble-page spread being edited by the user, a recommended double-pagespread including a template or an arrangement, and the like. The albumediting component 1403 is capable of creating various recommendationsand outputting the created recommendations to the album displaycomponent 1404 in response to a shift to the editing mode by the editingmode instruction component 1401.

The album display component 1404 displays bitmap data output by thealbum editing component 1403 on the display 105. The album displaycomponent 1404 also displays an editing screen being edited by the albumediting component 1403 on the display 105. The album display component1404 also displays the recommendation(s) created by the album editingcomponent 1403.

Note that album data obtained as a result of editing by the albumediting application 1400 may be uploaded to the server via the Internetbased on a user instruction. Based on the uploaded album data, printingand bookbinding processes are executed to thereby make albums in theform of booklets (photobooks), which will be delivered to designatedusers.

FIG. 15A and FIGS. 15B-1 and 15B-2 are diagrams illustrating UI displayexamples of album editing screens in the present embodiment. FIG. 15A isan example of a screen displayed on the display 105 after albumgeneration. The album data in the present embodiment is data on threealbums, namely, the album 1 for the person A as its album target (mainsubject), the album 2 for the person B as its album target, and thealbum 3 for a person C as its album target, as described above. An image1501 is an example of an image placed in a double-page spread, and thecharacters in the image 1501 represent the main subjects appearing inthe image. A common double-page spread 1502 represents an example inwhich images with a plurality of main subjects are mainly laid out. Onthe other hand, in individual double-page spreads 1503, 1504, and 1505,images with the main subjects A, B, and C are mainly laid out,respectively. As mentioned earlier, in the present embodiment, aplurality of albums are created each of which includes double-pagespreads created based on a different criterion. The editing mode panel1508 is a panel that enables a shift to the editing mode in response tobeing clicked with the mouse 107. Characters 1506 and 1507 arecharacters respectively representing an individual double-page spreadand a common double-page spread on the display 105. In this example,characters are shown, but the common double-page spreads and theindividual double-page spreads may be given different background colors.

FIG. 15B-1 is a screen displayed on the display 105 by the album editingapplication 1400 after the editing mode panel 1508 is clicked with themouse 107. Specifically, FIG. 15B-1 illustrates an example of an editingscreen. In FIG. 15B-1, an album-based editing screen. Specifically, thedouble-page spreads in each album are displayed. Note that in a casewhere the albums or the double-page spreads cannot fit in the screen,the screen may be configured such that their entirety can be seen viadisplay scroll or the like, or the display size of the double-pagespreads may be changed to display the entire double-page spreads in thescreen. In the present embodiment, depending on whether theediting-target double-page spread is a common double-page spread or anindividual double-page spread, the processing varies. Details will bedescribed later. Note that, in the example of the editing screen in FIG.15B-1, “editing-target double-page spread” is each double-page spread ineach album. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 15B-1, a total of 12double-page spreads are “editing-target double-page spreads”.

An image insertion panel 1509 is a panel to be clicked with the mouse107 to shift to an image insertion state. In one example, in order todetermine the image(s) to be inserted, all images obtained by the imageobtaining component in the album creation may be displayed as selectableimages. Instead of all images, the images not used in the albums may bedisplayed. A text insertion panel 1510 is a panel to be clicked with themouse 107 to shift a text insertion state. For example, the mouse cursormay be changed to a text insertion cursor in response to a click on thetext insertion panel 1510 with the mouse 107, and insertion of text maybe enabled in response to a click within an album with the mouse 107. Inthis state, the text size, the font, and the text color may be settable.A stamp insertion panel 1511 is a panel to be clicked with the mouse 107to shift to a stamp insertion state. For example, stamps may bedisplayed in response to a click on the stamp insertion panel with themouse 107, and the user may be allowed to select any stamp from amongthese stamps and add it in an album. A double-page spread addition panel1512 is a panel to be clicked with the mouse 107 to display adouble-page spread addition UI. Each plus mark 1513 is an icon to beclicked with the mouse 107 to add a double-page spread. The position toadditionally insert a double-page spread is fixed at the position of theplus mark.

FIG. 15B-2 represents the editing mode focusing on a double-page spreadin a desired album. FIG. 15B-2 illustrates an example focusing on adouble-page spread 1 in the album 1 in FIG. 15B-1. FIG. 15B-2 is anediting screen for performing editing on a double-page spread basis. Inthe editing screen in FIG. 15B-2, “editing-target double-page spread” isthe double-page spread focused on. That is, in the example of FIG.15B-2, “editing-target double-page spread” is the double-page spread 1in the album 1. To enable a double-page spread-based editing mode asillustrated in FIG. 15B-2, for example, any of the double-page spreadsin FIG. 15B-2 may be clicked with the mouse 107 to shift a double-pagespread-based editing mode focusing on that double-page spread. Note thatclicking the small double-page spread 1 in the album 2 displayed in FIG.15B-2 displays an editing screen focusing on the clicked double-pagespread 1 in the album 2.

Note that the example described so far assumes that the various panelsare to be left-clicked with the mouse 107, but a desired editing statemay be reached by, for example, displaying a menu with a right-click ofthe mouse 107 and then left-clicking the menu with the mouse 107.

Also, the editing mode instruction component 1401 sets the timing atwhich to apply an editing result. The application of an editing resultis a process of performing editing performed on one album also on theother albums based on the information on the change made as a result ofthe editing. The timing at which to apply an editing result may be acase where an editing operation is performed, a case where the userstores an album, a case where the editing-target double-page spread ischanged, or a case where the editing-target album is changed. Also, thetiming may be designated based on a user setting, or the software maydetermine the timing in advance and this timing may be used. In a casewhere any of such various timing conditions is satisfied, the albumediting component 1403 performs the process of applying the editingresult. The present embodiment assumes that the timing at which to applyan editing result is a case where an editing operation is performed. Theabove is the general description of the album editing process.

<Recommendation Differing by Album Target>

A recommendation process during editing in the present embodiment willbe described. In the present embodiment, a recommendation isautomatically made by following predetermined conditions. Therecommendation during editing in the present embodiment involves makinga recommendation suitable for the album target(s). Each double-pagespread in the present embodiment is either a common double-page spreador an individual double-page spread, as mentioned earlier. An individualdouble-page spread is, as mentioned earlier, a double-page spreadcreated dedicatedly for the album target of an individual album. Forthis reason, for an individual double-page spread, a recommendationsuitable for its album target is made. On the other hand, since a commondouble-page spread is a double-page spread common to all album targets,a recommendation for a common double-page spread is unlikely to bededicated to a specific album target.

Thus, in the present embodiment, for each album's common double-pagespread too, a recommendation suitable for that album's target (mainsubject) is made. As mentioned earlier, a common double-page spread is adouble-page spread common to all album targets, and therefore tends tobe a satisfactory double-page spread for all album targets. However,there may be an album user who is not satisfied with a commondouble-page spread thus created. For such an album user, a commondouble-page spread may be created as a replacement for the currentcommon double-page spread in the same way as the current commondouble-page spread, but there is a fear that doing so does notnecessarily improve the satisfaction. To address this, in the presentembodiment, in the case of making a recommendation for a commondouble-page spread, a suitable recommendation is made for the target ofeach individual album (main subject). By making a recommendationindividually adjusted to the main subject of each album for their commondouble-page spread, albums closer to the album user's preference areexpected to be created. This can improve the album user's satisfaction.As described above, in the present embodiment, regardless of whether theattribute of a double-page spread is individual double-page spread orcommon double-page spread, a recommendation suitable for the albumtarget(s) is made.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating blocks in the album editing component1403. The album editing component 1403 has a recommendation conditionsetting component 1601, an editing-target double-page spreaddetermination component 1602, an album information obtaining component1603, an image obtaining component 1604, a used-image determinationcomponent 1605, an image analysis component 1606, a scene divisioncomponent 1607, and a scene classification component 1608. The albumediting component 1403 also has a main subject setting component 1609,an image scoring component 1610, a parameter generation component 1620,and a recommendation component 1630. The parameter generation component1620 has an image selection parameter generation component 1611 and adouble-page spread creation parameter generation component 1615. Therecommendation component 1630 has an image selection component 1612 anda double-page spread generation component 1616.

The recommendation condition setting component 1601 sets recommendationconditions such as the number of recommendations, the unit ofrecommendation, and the type of recommendation. The number ofrecommendations is the number of recommendations to be made. The unit ofrecommendation is the unit of display in an editing screen displayed bythe editor. Examples of the unit of recommendation include “double-pagespread”, “album”, and “always display”. In a case where the unit ofrecommendation is “double-page spread”, the setting is such that arecommendation is made in a state where a double-page spread is focusedon as illustrated in FIG. 15B-2. In a case where the unit ofrecommendation is “album”, the setting is such that a recommendation ismade in a state where an editing screen with the entire albums isdisplayed as illustrated in FIG. 15B-1. In a case where the unit ofrecommendation is “always display”, the setting is such that arecommendation is made regardless of whether the unit is double-pagespread or album.

The type of recommendation is the unit of display of recommendation.Examples of the type of recommendation include “image” and “double-pagespread”. In a case where the type of recommendation is “image”,recommended is an image(s) to be included in a double-page spread(s). Ina case where the type of recommendation is “double-page spread”,recommended is a double-page spread(s) (i.e., a whole double-pagespread(s) with predetermined images placed in predetermined slots).Recommendations include various types of recommendations such asreplacing an image(s), adding an image(s), replacing a double-pagespread(s), and adding a double-page spread(s). Such recommendationconditions may be set by the editor or specified in advance. In anotherexample, in a case where the editor performing editing work has clickedthe image insertion panel 1509 and selected an image to be added, arecommendation suitable as a replacement with that image may bedisplayed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for settingthe recommendation conditions. FIG. 17 represents a display screen 1701provided by the album editing application 1400 and is displayed on thedisplay 105. Items designated by the editor in the display screen 1701are set as the recommendation conditions by the recommendation conditionsetting component 1601.

A recommendation number box 1702 is a box for designating the number ofrecommendations to be displayed. The user can directly enter a numberinto the recommendation number box 1702 by using the keyboard 106 orenter a number into the recommendation number box 1702 from a list byusing the mouse 107, for example.

Each recommendation scale checkbox 1703 is a box for designating theediting screen's unit (scale) for the displaying of a recommendation.The user can select one of the checkboxes by using the keyboard 106 orthe mouse 107. A recommendation will be displayed only in the editingscreen of the selected scale. “Scale” here refers to a screen statedisplayed by the editor, and “album”, “double-page spread”, and “alwaysdisplay” are shown. As mentioned earlier, with “double-page spread” setas the unit of recommendation, a recommendation is displayed in a statewhere an editing screen as illustrated in FIG. 15B-2 is displayed. With“album” set as the unit of recommendation, a recommendation is displayedin a state where an editing screen as illustrated in FIG. 15B-1 isdisplayed.

Each recommendation type checkbox 1704 is a box for designating the typeof recommendation to be displayed. The editor can select one of thecheckboxes by using the keyboard 106 or the mouse 107. As mentionedearlier, “image” or “double-page spread” can be set as the type ofrecommendation.

An OK button 1705 is a button for determining selected conditions as therecommendation conditions. In response to the editor clicking the OKbutton 1705 with the mouse 107, the recommendation conditions are fixedand transferred to the album editing component 1403 via therecommendation condition setting component 1601. A reset button 1706 isa button for resetting the setting information in the display screen.

Though not illustrated in FIG. 17, FIG. 17 may include a UI whichenables the editor to designate a common double-page spread, anindividual double-page spread, or both a common double-page spread andan individual double-page spread as the editing-target double-pagespread(s) for which to make a recommendation. Then, the recommendationcondition setting component 1601 may set recommendation conditions withthese conditions added.

The editing-target double-page spread determination component 1602 is aprocessing component that determines whether the editing-targetdouble-page spread is a common double-page spread or an individualdouble-page spread. A common double-page spread is a double-page spreadcreated by using a common criterion as the criterion for automaticdouble-page spread creation. In other examples of determining theattribute of a common double-page spread, the same double-page spreadappearing in a plurality of albums may be determined as a commondouble-page spread, a flag may be used to manage common double-pagespreads, and a double-page spread given a certain double-page spreadidentification number may be determined as a common double-page spread.As mentioned earlier, in the case where the editing screen in FIG. 15B-2is displayed, the double-page spread focused on is the editing-targetdouble-page spread. In the case where the editing screen in FIG. 15B-1is displayed, all double-page spreads in each album are theediting-target double-page spreads. In still another example ofdetermining the attribute, a double-page spread may be compared with acommon double-page spread in the other albums and determined as a commondouble-page spread in a case where their templates are not different.Also, a threshold value may be set, the degree of similarity betweendouble-page spreads may be derived, and in a case where the degree ofsimilarity is greater than or equal to the threshold value, thedouble-page spreads may be determined as a common double-page spread.

The album information obtaining component 1603 obtains the albuminformation received by the album information reception component 1402.

The image obtaining component 1604 obtains the image group used in thealbum creation which is present in the album information obtained by thealbum information obtaining component 1603. The image obtainingcomponent 1604 is a processing component similar to the image obtainingcomponent 203. In a case where the image obtaining component 1604 holdsthe image group used in the album creation, the image obtainingcomponent 1604 may skip the obtaining of the images and directly use theobtained images. Note that in a case where the folder setting isdifferent from that used by the image obtaining component 203 in thealbum creation or the HDD 104 has been updated, the image obtainingcomponent 1604 obtains a preset image group from the HDD 104.

From the album configuration information (used image information)obtained by the album information obtaining component 1603, theused-image determination component 1605 determines, for each imageobtained by the image obtaining component 1604, whether the image is animage used in an album(s). In the present embodiment, the used-imagedetermination component 1605 obtains the used image information on allalbums from the album information obtaining component 1603 and, for eachimage, determines whether it is a used image. In another example, in acase of recommendation for an individual double-page spread, the usedimage information on the editing-target album may be used and, in a caseof recommendation for a common double-page spread, the used imageinformation on all albums may be used. In a case where an imagedetermined as a used image is recommended, image duplication will occurin one or more albums, and such an image is not therefore used as arecommendation. Incidentally, each image determined as a used image maybe given a used image flag or a used image label. In the editingprocess, the editor sometimes excludes an image from the used images.Such an image intentionally excluded by the editor will be referred to“ex-used image” and may be managed with album information with a flag ora label attached to it, as with the above. Then, the album editingcomponent 1403 may skip the following process for the images other thanthe used images or perform a process such as not selecting the usedimages as recommended images. In the present embodiment, each used imageis given a used image flag, and is not selected as an image forgenerating a double-page spread. Also, in the present embodiment, theused-image determination component 1605 refers to the album changeinformation (editing history) obtained by the album informationobtaining component 1603, and determines each image newly added to analbum(s) via a user operation as a used image as well. The image addedvia a user operation is given a user-used image flag distinguished fromthe used image flag.

The image analysis component 1606 performs an analysis process on thepieces of image data obtained by the image obtaining component 1604. Theimage analysis component 1606 is a processing component similar to theimage analysis component 204. Note that in a case where there is animage obtained by the image obtaining component 1604 that is the same asone used in the album creation, the analysis result obtained in thealbum creation may be used.

The scene division component 1607 divides the image group obtained bythe image obtaining component 1604 into scenes based on the analysisinformation obtained by the image analysis component 1606. The scenedivision component 1607 is a processing component similar to the scenedivision component 206. Note that in a case where there is an imageobtained by the image obtaining component 203 that is the same as oneused in the album creation, the analysis result obtained in the albumcreation may be used.

The scene classification component 1608 determines the category of theimage group in each scene obtained by the scene division component 1607.The scene classification component 1608 is a processing componentsimilar to the scene classification component 207. Note that in a casewhere there is an image obtained by the image obtaining component 203and being the same as one used in the album creation, the analysisresult obtained in the album creation may be used.

The main subject setting component 1609 sets the main subject to beprioritized for each album. The main subject setting component 1609 is aprocessing component basically the same as the main subject settingcomponent 205 but part of its process is different. In the presentembodiment, the main subject of an individual double-page spread is thesame as that in the album creation. On the other hand, the main subjectsof a common double-page spread are different from those in the albumcreation and are set by taking into account two types of main subjects,namely, the main subject of the individual double-page spread(s) in thealbum creation and the main subjects of the common double-page spread(s)in the album creation (that is, the main subjects of a commondouble-page spread are set again from the settings used in the albumcreation). Accordingly, even for a common double-page spread, its mainsubjects vary by album. Also, since the main subjects of a commondouble-page spread take into account the main subjects of the commondouble-page spread(s) in the album creation, they are different from themain subject of the individual double-page spread(s). As an example oftaking into account the two types of main subjects, namely, the mainsubject of the individual double-page spread(s) and the main subjects ofthe common double-page spread(s) in the album creation, the scores forthe main subjects calculated by the image scoring component may beweighted and summed. The method of determining the weights may be suchthat, for example, the weights may be determined within the applicationin advance or may be made selectable by the editor in a setting UI. Ineither case, the main subjects of a common double-page spread used inrecommendation are main subjects with a closer focus on the main subjectof the editing-target album than the main subjects of the commondouble-page spread(s) used in the album creation. Thus, for a commondouble-page spread, the evaluation function to be used to determine itsimage scores is different for the album creation and for recommendation.On the other hand, for an individual double-page spread, the evaluationfunction to be used to determine its image scores is the same for albumcreation and recommendation.

The image scoring component 1610 scores each image based on the analysisinformation obtained by the image analysis component 1606 and the mainsubjects set by the main subject setting component 1609. Like the imagescoring component 208 in the album creation application, the imagescoring component 1610 scores each image such that an image suitable tobe laid out is given a high score. For the scoring to be performed suchthat an image suitable to be laid out is given a high score, theanalysis information on each image, the result of classification of theimage, image information, main subject information, and the like areused. In this way, each image is given a score for the image quality anda score for each main subject. In a case where the album informationcontains each image's scores, these scores may be used. In the presentembodiment, for each album's common double-page spread, there are twotypes of main subjects, namely, the main subject of the individualdouble-page spread(s) used in the album creation and the main subjectsof the common double-page spread(s) used in the album creation. Thus,the sum of weighted scores for these main subjects is also calculatedhere. Accordingly, the image score of a common double-page spread is adifferent value for each album.

Also, images whose image capture times are close to time information onthe editing-target double-page spread may be scored high. This makes itpossible to maintain consistency in time order. In one example, athreshold value for determining the consistency in time order isprepared in advance, and an image that is inconsistent in time order isexcluded from the recommendation targets. This prevents images intotally different time periods from being recommended for an album.Also, for the ex-used image excluded from an album by the editor anddetermined by the used-image determination component 1605, its score maybe adjusted to be small by applying a weight to the score. In this way,an image that was given a high image score in the automatic layout butis assumed to be not preferred by the album user can be prevented frombeing recommended again.

The parameter generation component 1620 generates parameters forselecting an image(s) and determining a double-page spread(s). Theparameter generation component 1620 has an image selection parametergeneration component 1611 and a double-page spread creation parametergeneration component 1615. In the case where “image” is selected as thetype of recommendation in the layout conditions in FIG. 17, a processusing the image selection parameter generation component 1611 isperformed. In the case where “double-page spread” is selected as thetype of recommendation, a process using the double-page spread creationparameter generation component 1615 is performed.

The recommendation component 1630 has an image selection component 1612and a double-page spread generation component 1616. In the case where“image” is selected as the type of recommendation in the layoutconditions in FIG. 17, a recommendation process using the imageselection component 1612 is performed. In the case where “double-pagespread” is selected as the type of recommendation, a recommendationprocess using the double-page spread generation component 1616 isperformed.

In the following, an example of the case where “image” is selected asthe type of recommendation will be described first. That is, an exampleusing the image selection parameter generation component 1611 and theimage selection component 1612 will be described.

The image selection parameter generation component 1611 generates aparameter for selecting an image(s) based on the main subjects set bythe main subject setting component 1609 and the analysis informationobtained by the image analysis component 1606. The parameter (imageselection parameter) here represents a setting for determining whichimage(s) to select. Examples include a weight to be applied to thescores obtained by the image scoring component 1610 in the imageselection. Examples of information used by the image selection parametergeneration component 1611 to calculate the weight include the varioustypes of information described with respect to the double-page spreadcreation parameter generation component 209 and the double-page spreadcreation component 210. Specifically, the image selection parameter is aparameter equivalent to the above-described first parameter for derivinga score of an image alone. Also, like the process by the double-pagespread creation parameter generation component 209, the image selectionparameter generation component 1611 generates a parameter for the commondouble-page spread(s) and a parameter for each album's individualdouble-page spread(s).

The image selection component 1612 selects an image(s) based on theresult of the scoring by the image scoring component 1610, the usedimage information determined by the used-image determination component1605, and the parameter generated by the image selection parametergeneration component 1611. Specifically, an image(s) whose final imagescore is high is(are) selected as a recommended image(s). In a case ofrecommending an image to be included in a common double-page spread, ifany of the images used in all albums is inserted in the albums, imageduplication will occur in one or more albums. Thus, the used images inany of the albums will not be selected as an image to be presented as arecommendation. In a case of recommending an image to be included in anindividual double-page spread, if any of the images used in theediting-target album is inserted in the album, image duplication willoccur in the editing-target album. Thus, none of images used in theediting-target album is selected as an image to be presented as arecommendation.

The album display component 1404 displays the bitmap data of theimage(s) selected by the image selection component 1612 on the display105.

The album display component 1404 highlights the image(s) output as arecommendation(s) by the recommendation component 1630. In the presentembodiment, an example of highlighting an image(s) in a double-pagespread in the editing screen illustrated in FIG. 15B-1 or 15B-2 will bedescribed, but a recommendation(s) may be displayed in a separatescreen.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams each illustrating an example of arecommendation(s) in the case where the type of recommendation is“image, i.e., a recommendation(s) for an image(s) in a commondouble-page spread displayed as a result of the processes by the imageselection parameter generation component 1611 and the image selectioncomponent 1612. FIG. 18A illustrates an example where “album” is set asthe unit of recommendation with the recommendation scale checkbox 1703,and FIG. 18B illustrates an example where “double-page spread” is set asthe unit of recommendation with the recommendation scale checkbox 1703.Also, in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the parts with a bold dotted line arehighlighted as images to be replaced with recommended images. Also, theright side of each of the editing screens in FIGS. 18A and 18B is arecommendation display part in which to display a recommendation(s)selected from the candidate image group based on conditions for thealbum(s). An image 1803 is a recommended image selected from thecandidate image group for a double-page spread 4 in the album 1, whichis an editing target. FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate examples ofrecommendation involving image replacement. Specifically, FIGS. 18A and18B illustrate examples of displaying a recommended image(s) and areplacement-target image(s) to be replaced with the recommendedimage(s). Note that recommendation may involve image addition. In thiscase, the configuration may be such that, in the examples of FIGS. 18Aand 18B, no image is highlighted as a replacement target.

The double-page spreads in the albums in FIG. 18A are the same as thedouble-page spreads in the albums in FIG. 15B-1. This example representsa case where the number of recommendations is set at “1” in therecommendation number box 1702. In FIG. 18A, the editing-targetdouble-page spreads are the double-page spreads 1 to 4 in the albums 1to 3. Since the unit of recommendation is “album”, a recommendation isdisplayed for each album. To explain with the example of the album 1,the example of FIG. 18A represents recommendation of an image to beadded to a common double-page spread. Here, this is an example of imagereplacement. Thus, an image 1802 in the double-page spread 4, which is acommon double-page spread, is displayed as a replacement-target image.The image 1802 in the double-page spread 4 is a replacement-target imagebecause the image 1802 is the image whose score calculated according tothe image selection parameter is the lowest among the images placed inthe common double-page spreads in all albums. Also, the image 1803 isdisplayed as a recommended image. The image 1803 is, for example, theimage whose score calculated according to the image selection parameteris the highest among the candidate images. Note that the main subjectsof a common double-page spread in album editing are determined by takinginto account the two types of main subjects, namely, the main subject ofthe individual double-page spread(s) in the album creation and the mainsubjects of the common double-page spread(s) in the album creation.Thus, for the double-page spread 4 in the album 1, the image 1803focused on the person A, who is the album target, is selected andrecommended from the candidate image group. Note that, in the example ofFIG. 18A, a recommended image for the double-page spread 4, which is acommon double-page spread, is displayed, but the recommended image isnot limited to this one. A recommended image for the double-page spread2 or 3, which is an individual double-page spread, or the like may bedisplayed or recommended images for these double-page spreads may bedisplayed. Also, the configuration may be such that the album user canswitch the display.

FIG. 18B is, like FIG. 15B-2, an editing screen focused on thedouble-page spread 1 in the album 1, which is a common double-pagespread. In FIG. 18B, the editing-target double-page spread is thedouble-page spread 1 in this album 1, which is a common double-pagespread. Thus, the replacement-target image is an image 1851 without theperson A. For the double-page spread 1 in the album 1, an image 1852focused on the person A, who is the album target, is selected as arecommended image, as with FIG. 18A.

Next, a process in the case where the type of recommendation is“double-page spread” will be described. As mentioned earlier, in thecase where the type of recommendation is “double-page spread”, a processusing the double-page spread creation parameter generation component1615 and the double-page spread generation component 1616 is performed.

The double-page spread creation parameter generation component 1615generates a parameter for creating a double-page spread(s) based on themain subjects set by the main subject setting component 1609 and theanalysis information obtained by the image analysis component 1606. Thedouble-page spread creation parameter generation component 1615 is aprocessing component similar to the double-page spread creationparameter generation component 209. The double-page spread creationparameter generation component 1615 sets a parameter for creating adouble-page spread(s) which corresponds to the double-page spread type(double-page spread criterion) determined by the editing-targetdouble-page spread determination component 1602. The double-page spreadcreation parameter is basically the same as a double-page spreadcreation parameter generated by the double-page spread creationparameter generation component 209 and, in this example, includes aparameter for deriving a double-page spread-based score (secondparameter). For example, in the example of FIG. 15B-2, the sum of thescores of the images in the double-page spread 1 in the album 1 is thescore of the double-page spread 1. Note that the score of each image inthe double-page spread is derived as a score taking relativeness in thedouble-page spread into account, as with the example described for theimage selection parameter. Also, in the case of the double-pagespread-based score, the sum of the scores of the images each multipliedby a weight corresponding to the size of the slot where the image isplaced is the double-page spread-based score. This is because an imageplaced in a larger slot is a more important image in the double-pagespread, and such an imagery element should be enhanced. Note that whilean example of summing the scores of the images multiplied by the weightscorresponding to their respective slot sizes has been described above,the weighting may be omitted or an average of the images may be used asthe score of the double-page spread.

The double-page spread generation component 1616 generates a double-pagespread(s) based on the result of the scoring by the image scoringcomponent 1610, the conditions set by the recommendation conditionsetting component 1601, the used image information determined by theused-image determination component 1605, and the double-page spreadcreation parameter generated by the double-page spread creationparameter generation component 1615. The double-page spread generationcomponent 1616 generates a double-page spread(s) to be presented as arecommendation(s). In a case where the number of recommendations isplural, non-similar double-page spreads may be recommended in order ofdouble-page spread score. Incidentally, the similarity determination mayinclude determining the similarity in slot arrangement, and the like. Inthe case of recommending a double-page spread(s), too, a differentrecommendation is made for each album target in a manner as describedabove.

FIGS. 19A and 19B and FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams illustratingexamples of recommendations displayed in the case where the type ofrecommendation is “double-page spread”, i.e., recommendations displayedas a result of the processes by the double-page spread creationparameter generation component 1615 and the double-page spreadgeneration component 1616. FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate examples where“album” is set as the unit of recommendation with the recommendationscale checkbox 1703, and FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate examples where“double-page spread” is set as the unit of recommendation with therecommendation scale checkbox 1703. In these examples, in the case wherethe type of recommendation is “double-page spread”, firstly, the imagesincluded in the editing-target double-page spread, which is an existingdouble-page spread, are replaced or images are added to theediting-target double-page spread. As a result, a newly createddouble-page spread and the editing-target double-page spread to bereplaced with the created double-page spread are displayed.Incidentally, in FIGS. 19A and 19B and FIGS. 20A and 20B, some of theparts indicated by a bold dotted line are highlighted as theediting-target double-page spreads.

FIG. 19A is an example where the double-page spread 4, which is a commondouble-page spread, is the editing-target double-page spread. In a casewhere a plurality of common double-page spreads are present in thealbums, the common double-page spread with the lower or lowestdouble-page spread score is selected as the editing-target double-pagespread to be replaced. Note that, as mentioned earlier, the double-pagespread score is newly derived based on the set main subjects and cantherefore be different from the double-page spread score used in thealbum creation. In FIG. 19A, the double-page spread 4 is theediting-target double-page spread for all of the three albums. Thedouble-page spread 4 is a common double-page spread. Thus, beforeediting performed, the double-page spread 4 in each album appears as adotted line part 1901 and the same images are placed therein. On theother hand, in the present embodiment, a different recommendation isdisplayed in each recommendation display part 1902 during the albumediting for the common double-page spread, since the main subject ofeach album has been set, as mentioned earlier.

FIG. 19B illustrates an example where individual double-page spreads arethe recommendation targets. In this case, in the recommendation displaypart, double-page spreads are displayed in each of which, images focusedon the main subject of the corresponding album are placed among theunused images not used in the individual double-page spreads in thealbum. That is, for an individual double-page spread too, arecommendation suitable for its album target is displayed. Whether torecommend individual double-page spreads or to recommend a commondouble-page spread can be set as appropriate by the user or can be setas appropriate according to the double-page spread scores or the like,as mentioned earlier. However, in the case of album-basedrecommendation, the double-page spreads to be recommended for all albumspreferably have the same attribute.

FIG. 20A is an example where the unit of recommendation is “double-pagespread”. FIG. 20B is an example where the unit of recommendation is“double-page spread” and “2” is designated as the number ofrecommendations with the recommendation number box 1702.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a process flow of making of arecommendation by the album editing application 1400 according to thepresent embodiment. The CPU 101 implements the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 21 by reading out a program stored in the HDD 104 into the ROM 102or the RAM 103 and executing it, for example.

In S2101, the recommendation condition setting component 1601 sets therecommendation conditions. In the present embodiment, the unit ofrecommendation, the number of recommendations, and the type ofrecommendation are set as the recommendation conditions, as illustratedin FIG. 17.

In S2102, the editing-target double-page spread determination component1602 determines whether the editing-target double-page spread is acommon double-page spread or an individual double-page spread.

In S2103, the album information obtaining component 1603 obtains albuminformation, which is album configuration information, album generationinformation, and album change information.

In S2104, the image obtaining component 1604 reads the images specifiedby the image information contained in the album information out of theHDD 104 and loads them into the RAM 103. In a case where the images havealready been loaded in the RAM 103, this process is not performed. Asmentioned earlier, the image information also includes information onimages additionally inserted by the album user in the editing process bythe album editing application 1400.

In S2105, the used-image determination component 1605 determines whetheran image obtained by the album information obtaining component 1603 is aused image based on the double-page spread type determined by theediting-target double-page spread determination component 1602. In acase where the editing-target double-page spread is a common double-pagespread, the used image information on all albums is used. In a casewhere the editing-target double-page spread is an individual double-pagespread, the used image information on the currently edited album isused. Also, as mentioned earlier, an image additionally inserted by thealbum user is determined as a user-used image.

In S2106, the image analysis component 1606 analyzes the image dataloaded in the RAM 103. The image analysis process is a flow similar tothat for the album creation in FIG. 5B.

In S2107, the image analysis component 1606 determines whether S2105 toS2106 have been finished for all images in the image group in the HDD104 obtained in S2104. In a case where the steps have not been finished,the flow returns to S2105. In a case where the steps have been finished,the flow proceeds to S2108.

In S2108, the scene division component 1607 performs scene division onthe image group obtained by the image obtaining component 1604. It is aflow similar to S505. In S2109, the scene classification component 1608performs scene classification on the sub image groups obtained by thedivision by the scene division component 1607. It is a flow similar toS506.

In S2110, the main subject setting component 1609 sets the main subjectof each album for album editing. The main subject of each album is setbased on the album information obtained by the album informationobtaining component 1603. In a case where the attribute determined inS2102 is “individual”, the main subject is set similarly to that in thealbum creation. On the other hand, in a case where the attribute is“common”, the main subjects of the common double-page spread are set bytaking into account the two types of main subjects, namely, the mainsubject of the individual double-page spread(s) used in the albumcreation and the main subjects of the common double-page spread(s) usedin the album creation.

In S2111, the image scoring component 1610 scores an image. It is a flowsimilar to S508. In S2112, the image scoring component 1610 determineswhether the image scoring in S2111 has been finished for all of theimages processed by the image analysis component 1606. In a case wherethe image scoring has not been finished, the flow returns to S2111. In acase where the image scoring has been finished, the flow proceeds toS2113.

In S2113, the parameter generation component 1620 generates a parameteraccording to the recommendation conditions set in S2101. In the casewhere the type of recommendation is “image”, the image selectionparameter generation component 1611 generates an image selectionparameter. In the case where the type of recommendation is “double-pagespread”, the double-page spread creation parameter generation component1615 generates a double-page spread creation parameter.

In S2114, the recommendation component 1630 makes a recommendationaccording to the recommendation conditions set in S2101. In the casewhere the type of recommendation is “image”, the image selectioncomponent 1612 selects the image(s) to be recommended. In the case wherethe type of recommendation is “double-page spread”, the double-pagespread generation component 1616 generates a double-page spread byfollowing each album's conditions. Then, the recommendation component1630 outputs the double-page spread as a recommendation to the albumdisplay component 1404.

In S2115, the recommendation component 1630 determines whether it hasmade the number of recommendations designated by the recommendationcondition setting component 1601. In a case where the designated numberof recommendations have not yet been made, the flow returns to S2114. Ina case where the designated number of recommendations have been made,the flow is terminated.

Note that in a case where the editor performs a process of reflecting arecommendation for a common double-page spread as described in thepresent embodiment in an editing result, whether the attribute of thatcommon double-page spread will be handled as common double-page spreador as individual double-page spread in the subsequent editing processdepends on the contents of the double-page spread. For example, asmentioned earlier, the degree of similarity between the originalediting-target double-page spread and the double-page spread after thereplacement with the recommendation may be derived. Depending on whetherthe degree of similarity thus derived exceeds a predetermined thresholdvalue or not, the double-page spread may be handled as a commondouble-page spread or handled as an individual double-page spread.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possibleto provide albums each of which is satisfactory to the album user.Specifically, for a common double-page spread, a different evaluationfunction is used for album creation and recommendation. In this way,even for a common double-page spread, a suitable recommendation can beindividually made for each album target. Thus, for both an individualdouble-page spread and a common double-page spread, a suitablerecommendation can be made according to the album target. Also, bytaking into account the image use information on not only one album butalso a plurality of albums, it is also possible to prevent imageduplication in the case of performing image replacement using arecommended image.

Also, in the case of making a suitable recommendation individually foreach album target, then, if an image(s) in a common double-page spreadis(are) changed, this change is not applied to the other albums. Thesatisfaction of even a common double-page spread in each individualalbum can be adjusted by performing editing on an album-by-album basis.

Embodiment 2

<Recommendation of Similar Image>

In the present embodiment, a more suitable recommendation is made foreach album by recommending a similar image. In Embodiment 1, a processof not selecting a used image as a recommendation is performed. In thepresent embodiment, an example will be described in which, in additionto this process, the image group is searched to find a similar image toan image used in the current double-page spread and the similar image isused as a recommended image.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram to which a similar image determinationprocess performed in the present embodiment is added. Also, FIG. 23 is adiagram of a process flow for making a recommendation in the presentembodiment. Note that the same numbers as those in Embodiment 1represent the same processes by the same components, and descriptionthereof is therefore omitted below.

A used-image determination component 2202 performs use classification onthe images obtained by the image obtaining component 1604 based on thealbum information obtained by the album information obtaining component1603. In the present embodiment, the used image information on allalbums is obtained from the album information obtaining component 1603and use information is determined. In another example, the image useinformation on the editing-target album may be used in a case where theindividual criterion has been determined to be used, and the image useinformation on all albums may be used in a case where the commoncriterion has been determined to be used. In the present embodiment,each image is determined as one of the following three classifications.The first one is a classification representing an image not used in anyalbums (unused image). The second one is a classification representingan image used in an album(s) and placed in the currently editeddouble-page spread (an image used in the editing-target double-pagespread). The third one is a classification representing an image used inan album(s) but not placed in the currently edited double-page spread(an image not used in the editing-target double-page spread).Classification into one of these three use images is performed.

A similar image determination component 2201 is a processing componentthat performs image similarity determination. In the present embodiment,labeling is performed by performing the following three types ofsimilarity determination.

The first one is determination of similarity between an image used notin the editing-target double-page spread and an unused image. An imagedetermined to be similar by this similarity determination will not beused be as a recommendation since using it as one will cause imageduplication with an image used in another album(s) or anotherdouble-page spread(s). Such an image is managed with a label attachedthereto as an image not to be used as a recommendation. In thedescription of the present embodiment, this classification label will bereferred to as the label 1.

The second one is determination of similarity between an image used inthe editing-target double-page spread and an unused image. An imagedetermined to be similar in this similarity determination is a similarimage to an image in the editing-target double-page spread, and sincechanging its main subject may potentially create a better image, thissimilar image may be used as a recommendation. Here, there are as manylabels as the images in the editing-target double-page spread. For eachimage in the editing-target double-page spread, an image determined tobe similar thereto is managed with a label. Only one recommendation maybe made from a group of images with the same label. This can preventmany recommendations from being made for the same image. In thedescription of the present embodiment, this classification label as animage usable as a recommended image will be referred to as the label 2.There are as many labels 2 as the images in the editing-targetdouble-page spread. Thus, in a case where the number of images in theediting-target double-page spread is, for example, three, the labelingis performed using labels 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3.

The third one is determination of similarity between images not used inany albums. The determination of similarity between images not used inany albums is performed on images that have not yet been labeled. Here,images determined to be similar to each other are given the same labelso that the similar images can be managed as a similar image group. Forthis determination too, only one recommendation may be made from a groupof images with the same label. This can prevent many recommendationsfrom being made for the same image. In the description of the presentembodiment, this classification label will be referred to as the label3. There are as many labels 3 as the groups of unused images determinedto be similar. This example assumes that it is determined that there arefive groups. These are given labels 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, and 3-5,respectively. By this determination process, all images are labeled.Incidentally, information on which image is given which label may bestored in the album information holding component 215 and used in thenext and subsequent recommendations.

Each type of image similarity determination may, for example, bedetermination using Structural Similarity (SSIM). Specifically, the SSIMvalue of an image in the edited page and an image obtained by the imageobtaining component 1604 may be calculated, and in a case where thecalculated SSIM value is greater than or equal to a threshold value of0.8, the images may be determined to be similar. This threshold value isan example, and another value may be employed. Alternatively, PSNR maybe used instead of SSIM. With PSNR too, the threshold value may be setfreely, e.g., 40 dB. As for the method of determining this thresholdvalue, it may be set in advance or may be selected by the editor. In thecase where the editor selects the threshold value, an indirect selectionmethod may be employed such as using a slider to raise or lower thethreshold value, instead of directly determining the threshold value. Ina case where the images to be subjected to the similar imagedetermination differ in size, the size is adjusted to the used image,and then the similar image determination is performed. For example, in acase where the used image is smaller, the unused image is cropped withthe size of the used image, and then the similar image determination isperformed. In a case where the used image is larger, the unused image isenlarged to the same size of the used image, and then the similaritydetermination is performed. Another example of similar imagedetermination is a method in which the images are sorted by content. Forexample, a method in which images are classified by main subject may beemployed. Alternatively, a method in which the objects in images aredetected and images containing many identical objects are classified assimilar images.

An image selection component 2203 select an image(s) based on the resultof the labeling by the similar image determination component 2201, andthe parameter generated by the image selection parameter generationcomponent 1611. In the present embodiment, with the image placed in theediting-target double-page spread and the image group subjected to thesimilarity determination with that image by the similar imagedetermination component 2201, final image scores are calculated, and theimage with the highest image score is selected as a recommended image.In this process, any images with the label 1 are not used as recommendedimages. This can prevent image duplication with another double-pagespread(s) in a case where image replacement is performed using arecommended image. In a case of recommending a plurality of images, onlyone image is selected from the same label for the editing target. Thiscan prevent only similar images from being selected as the recommendedimages.

In S2105 in FIG. 23, the used-image determination component 2202determines whether the image obtained based on the criterion determinedby the album information reception component 1402 and the editing-targetdouble-page spread determination component 1602 is a used image. In acase where the double-page spread to be added is based on the commoncriterion, the used image information on all albums is used. In a casewhere the double-page spread to be added is based on the individualcriterion, the used image information on the currently edited album isused.

In S2301, the similar image determination component 2201 performssimilar image determination by using the result of the determination ofused images and other images by the used-image determination component2202. The result of the similarity determination is used in the imageselection in S2114 along with the parameter generated by the parametergeneration component in S2113.

The above is the description of the recommendation in the presentembodiment. In the present embodiment, a more suitable recommendationcan be made for each album by recommending a similar image. Also, therange of similarity determination is set differently for commondouble-page spreads and individual double-page spreads. This can preventimage duplication while maximizing the range of images to be selected.Moreover, labeling is performed in the similarity determination. Thus,in the next and subsequent recommendations, the efficiency of a processsuch as sorting is improved by making a selection from the image groupwith a label that can be used for the recommendation (the label 2 in thepresent embodiment). In addition, as described above, only onerecommendation is made from a group of images with the same label. Thiscan prevent many recommendations from being made for the same image.

Embodiment 3

<Recommendation after Image Cropping>

In the present embodiment, a process of performing cropping on a similarimage determined as the label 1 in Embodiment 2 will be described.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram for recommendation in the present embodiment.FIG. 25 is a diagram of a process flow for making of a recommendation.Note that the same numbers as those in Embodiment 2 represent the sameprocesses by the same components, and description thereof is thereforeomitted below.

A cropping component 2401 performs cropping on an image group determinedas similar images with the label 1 by the similar image determinationcomponent. The cropping is performed such that the size after thecropping is the size of an image used not in the editing-targetdouble-page spread. With the cropping, a plurality of patterns may becreated. Each image after this cropping is subjected to thedetermination of the used image classification again. In this way, animage determined once as a similar image with the label 1 can be anon-similar image depending on the cropped area. This can increase therange of images to be selected as a recommendation.

In S2501, it is determined whether the similarity label of an imagedetermined as a similar image in S2301 is 1. In a case where it isdetermined that the label is 1, the flow proceeds to S2502. In a casewhere it is determined that the label is not 1, the flow proceeds toS2106.

In S2502, the cropping component 2401 performs the cropping on thesimilar image whose label is determined to be 1 in S2501.

The above is the description of the recommendation in the presentembodiment. By cropping an image determined as a similar image with thelabel 1 to create a non-similar image, it is possible to increase therange of images to be selected as a recommendation while preventingimage duplication.

In the embodiments described above, an example has been described inwhich a recommendation(s) is(are) displayed in a case where an editingscreen such as in FIG. 15B-1 or 15B-2 is displayed, but the embodimentsare not limited to this example. No recommendation may be displayed in astate where FIG. 15B-1 or 15B-2 or the like is displayed, and arecommendation(s) may be displayed in response to a predetermined buttonoperation as a trigger. Also, the display screen to display therecommendation(s) may be a screen separate from the editing screen.

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2021-020370, filed Feb. 12, 2021, which is hereby incorporated byreference wherein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling an image processingapparatus, the method comprising: specifying a change target for acommon page contained in album data for a first subject containing thecommon page and an individual page for the first subject, based at leaston parameters related to the first subject, and specifying a changetarget for the common page contained in album data for a second subjectcontaining the common page and an individual page for the secondsubject, based at least on parameters related to the second subject,wherein at least one of the parameters used to specify the change targetfor the common page contained in the album data for the first subjectand at least one of the parameters used to specify the change target forthe common page contained in the album data for the second subject aredifferent; displaying the change targets thus specified; and changingthe common page contained in the album data for the first subject basedon the specified change target according to a change operation forchanging the album data for the first subject, and changing the commonpage contained in the album data for the second subject based on thespecified change target according to a change operation for changing thealbum data for the second subject.
 2. The control method according toclaim 1, further comprising generating the album data for the firstsubject and the album data for the second subject.
 3. The control methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the common page is generated based on theparameters related to the first subject and the parameters related tothe second subject, the individual page for the first subject isgenerated based on the parameters related to the first subject and notbased on the parameters related to the second subject, and theindividual page for the second subject is generated based on theparameters related to the second subject and not based on the parametersrelated to the first subject.
 4. The control method according to claim2, wherein a plurality of parameters used to generate the common pageand the one or more parameters used to specify the change target for thecommon page contained in the album data for the first subject aredifferent.
 5. The control method according to claim 1, wherein controlis performed such that an image other than any of images alreadycontained in the album data for the first subject and the album data forthe second subject is specified as the change target for the commonpage.
 6. The control method according to claim 1, wherein a changetarget for the individual page for the first subject is specified basedon the parameters related to the first subject, and a change target forthe individual page for the second subject is specified based on theparameters related to the second subject, the individual page containedin the album data for the first subject is changed based on thespecified change target according to a change operation for changing thealbum data for the first subject, and the individual page contained inthe album data for the second subject is changed based on the specifiedchange target according to a change operation for changing the albumdata for the second subject.
 7. The control method according to claim 6,further comprising generating the album data for the first subject andthe album data for the second subject, wherein one or more of parametersused to generate the individual page for the first subject and the oneor more parameters used to specify the change target for the individualpage contained in the album data for the first subject are the same. 8.The control method according to claim 6, wherein control is performedsuch that an image other than any of images already contained in thealbum data for the first subject is specified as the change target forthe individual page for the first subject, and control is performed suchthat an image other than any of images already contained in the albumdata for the second subject is specified as the change target for theindividual page for the second subject.
 9. The control method accordingto claim 1, wherein in a case where the common page contained in thealbum data for the first subject is changed, the changed common page ishandled as the individual page contained in the album data for the firstsubject.
 10. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the changetarget for the common page to be specified is an image with which toreplace an image contained in the common page.
 11. The control methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the change target for the common page tobe specified is a page with which to replace the common page.
 12. Thecontrol method according to claim 1, wherein the common page and theindividual pages are each a double-page spread.
 13. The control methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the parameter related to the first subjectis at least one of a parameter related to whether the first subject isin an image, a parameter related to a ratio of a face of the firstsubject in the image, a parameter related to a size of the face of thefirst subject in the image, or a parameter related to a facialexpression of the first subject in the image.
 14. The control methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising uploading the album data forthe first subject to a server.
 15. The control method according to claim1, wherein the common page is contained in a plurality of pieces of dataincluding the album data for the first subject and the album data forthe second subject, the individual page for the first subject is notcontained in the plurality of pieces of album data except the album datafor the first subject, and the individual page for the second subject isnot contained in the plurality of pieces of album data except the albumdata for the second subject.
 16. The control method according to claim1, wherein in each of the pages contained in the album data for thefirst subject, attribute information is set which indicates whether thepage is the common page or the individual page for the first subject.17. The control method according to claim 1, further comprisingdetermining whether a predetermined page is the common page or theindividual page for the first subject, wherein in a case where thepredetermined page is determined to be the common page, a change targetfor the predetermined page, which is the common page contained in thealbum data for the first subject, is specified based at least on theparameters related to the first subject.
 18. The control methodaccording to claim 1, wherein an album is created by executing printingbased on the album data for the first subject.
 19. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium storing a program to cause a computerof an image processing apparatus to execute: specifying a change targetfor a common page contained in album data for a first subject containingthe common page and an individual page for the first subject, based atleast on parameters related to the first subject, and specifying achange target for the common page contained in album data for a secondsubject containing the common page and an individual page for the secondsubject, based at least on parameters related to the second subject,wherein at least one of the parameters used to specify the change targetfor the common page contained in the album data for the first subjectand at least one of the parameters used to specify the change target forthe common page contained in the album data for the second subject aredifferent; displaying the change targets thus specified; and changingthe common page contained in the album data for the first subject basedon the specified change target according to a change operation forchanging the album data for the first subject, and changing the commonpage contained in the album data for the second subject based on thespecified change target according to a change operation for changing thealbum data for the second subject.
 20. An image processing apparatuscomprising: a specifying unit that specifies a change target for acommon page contained in album data for a first subject containing thecommon page and an individual page for the first subject, based at leaston parameters related to the first subject, and specifies a changetarget for the common page contained in album data for a second subjectcontaining the common page and an individual page for the secondsubject, based at least on parameters related to the second subject,wherein at least one of the parameters used to specify the change targetfor the common page contained in the album data for the first subjectand at least one of the parameters used to specify the change target forthe common page contained in the album data for the second subject aredifferent; display unit that displays the change targets thus specified;and changing unit that changes the common page contained in the albumdata for the first subject based on the specified change targetaccording to a change operation for changing the album data for thefirst subject, and changes the common page contained in the album datafor the second subject based on the specified change target according toa change operation for changing the album data for the second subject.